Shoma's press con on his retirement 14/05/2024
Japanese transcript (not sure if it's full though) of Shoma's 1 hour retirement press con. I put a machine translation with Google lense on each paragraph. Beware that it's not a word for word translation but only for getting the gist of Shoma's words!
[Shoma Uno's retirement press conference] The most vivid memory I have is ``the sight of coach Stéphane Lambiel when he won his first world championship.''
Q.When was the moment when you decided to end your career with this season?
It was about two years ago that I started thinking about retiring.
However, since then, I have had a hard time imagining myself retiring, so of course I have been working hard on skating with all my might, but I have had many experiences since then, and I am now where I am now.
It's already time to decide on a clear time.
However, regarding when I told my coach, right after the All Japan Championships ended, I told Coach Stefan that I was thinking of retiring as an active athlete at the next tournament.
Q. What did you gain or feel because you experienced the big stage?
I've never been someone who was good at standing up in front of people and talking like this, or performing on a big stage.
Once you experience something on a big stage, you become less nervous about everything than you were then.
I've had a lot of experiences on big stages, but even if it's not a big stage at all, there are parts of my life that make me nervous.
My biggest thought is that when I look back on it, I think it was a precious experience, a precious treasure that I only get to have now.
Q. No matter how many times I think about it, I think it's a good memory.
I think seeing Stefan's joy after winning his first World Championship is a very memorable and vivid memory for me as well.
[Shoma Uno's retirement press conference] "I'm looking forward to figure skating as he continues to reach a high level."
Q. You have been able to express yourself even among players with large physiques.
I have never felt at a disadvantage in figure skating because of my short height.
I'm really glad I chose figure skating.
First of all, with my height of 157 cm, there are not many other sports where I can excel, so I am truly blessed to have started figure skating.
I don't think I ever had such negative feelings.
Q. Do you have a message for your juniors who are competing against rising players such as [Ilia] Malinin?
I skated an old program at an ice show the other day, so I had the opportunity to watch videos of old competitions.
When I looked at my own videos, I realized that I had really evolved in terms of expression compared to before.
I'm looking forward to the future of figure skating, which will continue to rise to a higher and higher level, and all the juniors in Japan are really good kids. First of all, we get along very well. Of course I want everyone to have a good result, but I also hope that at least one athlete who has the most fun and embodies the kind of skating that they are aiming for can emerge.
Q. What do you think about when you are skating?
When I was little, I had a very introverted personality and couldn't speak in front of people.
I don't think my parents thought I would be able to stand on the ice alone and perform in front of so many people.
On the other hand, because I'm the only one there, people can really see the world I create and the way I express myself.
Even here, I'm very grateful to have a place where everyone listens to what I say sincerely and reports on it, and I think that's why it's a place where it's easy to express my true colors. Because I think so.
I don't think I'm the type of person who can communicate much, so I think the competition and environment suited me very well.
Also, when it comes to skating, which I would like to do in the future, I want to give it my all.
I also want to be able to create a program that I find enjoyable every day, and show it to everyone in a way that brings out my own emotions.I don't feel like I have to do this first, but I want to. I'm excited about the possibility of creating some great programs in the future that emerge from this feeling.
Q.What is the driving force behind skating?
To be honest, I don't know.
I've loved games since I was very young, so at first I just wanted to play games and work hard at skating.
However, as I continued skating every day, I gradually became attracted to the appeal of skating and the idea that I could compete at the top of the world. I think it's really important to have a place to devote all your time to, including your hobbies.
No matter how depressed you are, being able to put your all into something is extremely valuable.
Although it may be tiring at times.
However, I believe that the time I spent facing this wholeheartedly will be an asset for me in the future, and I think that this experience will be something I can continue to utilize in my life. Masu.
Feimeicheng did a translation on her Instagram Account so you can check for translation discrepancies.