Shoma Uno
A Japanese skater whose explosive jumps and artistic intensity made him a dominant and compelling force in men's figure skating for nearly a decade.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Japanese figure skater·Birthday: December 17·Generation Z
Biography
Shoma Uno announced his arrival not with a whisper, but with a thunderclap of quadruple jumps and raw emotional power. Bursting onto the senior scene in 2015, the Japanese skater quickly distinguished himself with technical ambition that seemed to defy his compact frame. Following the retirement of his countryman Yuzuru Hanyu, Uno stepped into the vacuum not as a mere successor, but as a champion in his own right, claiming back-to-back World titles in 2022 and 2023. His style was a captivating contradiction: deep, intricate edges and a profound connection to music, punctuated by moments of almost violent athletic power. After securing Olympic bronze and silver medals, Uno retired in 2024, leaving a legacy defined by his relentless competitive fire and unique artistic voice.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Shoma was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Shoma Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Shoma's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the men's singles World Figure Skating Championships in both 2022 and 2023.
- Earned three Olympic medals: team event bronze in 2018, and silver in both the individual and team events in 2022.
- Captured the Grand Prix Final title in the 2022-23 season, solidifying his number-one ranking.
- Became a six-time Japanese national champion, dominating the domestic scene.
Did You Know?
He is known for being a huge fan of horse racing and often attends races.
He famously trains under his coach, Stéphane Lambiel, primarily through online correspondence and periodic visits to Switzerland.
He started skating at age five after receiving skates that belonged to his older sister.
“I want to be a skater who can move people's hearts.”
