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Former world skating champion Uno joins pro eSports team / Photo: Maddie Meyer - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Former world skating champion Uno joins pro eSports team
Japan's retired former world champion figure skater Shoma Uno said Friday that he was "ready to take gaming beyond being just a hobby" after joining a professional eSports team.
The 28-year-old, who won silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and bronze four years later in Beijing, was unveiled as the newest member of Japanese team Varrel.
Uno has long been known for his love of gaming, even playing long into the night while competing at the Olympics.
He retired from competitive skating in May 2024 and has since performed in professional ice shows.
Uno said that "until now, gaming had been my biggest hobby".
"Now that I've joined Varrel, I want to show that I'm ready to take gaming beyond being just a hobby and commit to it wholeheartedly," he said.
"I want to enjoy gaming to the fullest and share the excitement with you all."
Uno did not reveal any specific details of which games he will play with the team.
Varrel said he would "convey the joy and depth of gaming to a wider audience through YouTube streams and events" while continuing with his skating work.
Uno is a two-time world champion, winning the title in 2022 and 2023.
R.Keller--BlnAP
