is a Japanese

figure skater Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic d ...

. She is the 2024 World Junior bronze medalist, the 2023–24 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2023 JGP Poland champion, and the 2023 JGP Turkey silver medalist. At the domestic level, Uezono is the 2023–24 Japan Junior bronze medalist and the 2022–23 Japan Novice A champion.

Personal life

Uezono was born on 7 June 2010 in

Aichi is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. She looks up to fellow Japanese skater and two-time Olympic champion

Yuzuru Hanyu is a Japanese figure skater and ice show producer. Universally regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters in history for his well-rounded skills, achievements, innovations, longevity, popularity, and impact on the sport, he started skat ...

. Her hobbies include playing the piano, cooking, and fashion. Uezono's figure skating idols are

Mao Asada is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is the Figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Ladies' singles, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World Figure Skating Championships, World champion (2008, 2010, 2014), a three-t ...

Yuna Kim Yuna Kim (; born September 5, 1990), also credited in eastern name order as Kim Yuna or Kim Yeon-a, is a South Korean figure skater. Known for her well-rounded skills, achievements, popularity, and impact on the sport, she is one of the most ...

, and

Career

Uezono began skating in 2017 at the age of seven after being inspired by watching

perform at an ice show in her home region of

. She won the silver medal at the 2020 Japanese National Novice Championships in the novice B category.

2021–22 season

Uezono placed fifth at the 2021 Japanese National Novice A Championships and was invited to compete at the 2021–22 Japan Junior National Championships. She finished in eighteenth place after two falls in the free skate. Following the season, Uezono joined Mihoko Higuchi's newly founded skating club, the LYS Skate Club. In turn, Higuchi began coaching her as well.

2022–23 season

Uezono won the 2022 Japan National Novice A Championships, 15.77 points above Mayuko Oka, and was again invited to compete at the 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships. After a clean short program, Uezono placed in eleventh. However, two falls in the free skate dropped her to the thirteenth place. She was invited to skate in the gala at the 2023 World Team Trophy.

2023–24 season

As the reigning national novice champion, Uezono was selected to make her international competitive debut on the

Junior Grand Prix The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (titled the ISU Junior Series in the 1997–98 season) is a series of international junior-level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men ...

at the 2023 JGP Turkey. Fourth in the short program, she moved up to second overall after the free skate, taking the silver medal. Weeks later she won gold at the 2023 JGP Poland, in the processing qualifying to the

Junior Grand Prix Final The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final (titled the ISU Junior Series Final in the 1997–98 season) is the final event of a series of junior-level competitions – the ISU Junior Grand Prix – organized by the International Skating Union (ISU). Medal ...

. Based on her prior results, Uezono was considered a podium contender at the 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships. She won the bronze medal, in the process qualifying to the senior national championships. Next appearing at the Junior Grand Prix Final in

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

, Uezono finished third in both segments and claimed the bronze medal there as well. She set new personal bests in both segments and overall. She then competed at the senior national championships at month's end, finishing fourth, less than two points back of bronze medalist

Mao Shimada is a Japanese figure skating, figure skater. She is the Figure skating at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics – Women's singles, 2024 Youth Olympic champion, a three-time World Junior Figure Skating Championships, World Junior champion (2023 World ...

. Uezono described skating in the final group of the free skate as "very nerve-wracking, but I was able to skate with the best skaters and that was a good experience." Uezono finished the season at the 2024 World Junior Championships in

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

. In the short program, she fell on her jump combination and finished in eighth place. She rallied in the free skate, coming third in that segment with a new personal best, and rising to third place overall.

2024–25 season

Uezono began her season on the

by competing at 2024 JGP Czech Republic, entering as the pre-event favourite. She placed second in the short program but fourth free skate after falling twice during her free program. She would drop to a disappointing fourth place overall. She went on to place fourth again at 2024 JGP Slovenia. In late November, Uezono competed at the 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships, where she finished fifth. This result ensured her qualification to compete at the senior championships, where she placed twenty-sixth, failing to advance to the free skate segment of the competition.

2025–26 season

In July, it was announced that Uezono had relocated to

Kobe Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...

and joined the Kobe Figure Skating Club, where she was now being coached by Sonoko Nakano.

Programs

Competitive highlights

Detailed results

Senior level

Junior level

References

External links

*
UEZONO Rena
at the

Japan Skating Federation The Japan Skating Federation () is the sports governing body of Japan for figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in 1929. The current president (since 2019) is Akihisa Nagashima, a member of the House of Rep ...

Rena Uezono
at SkatingScores.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Uezono, Rena Living people 2010 births Figure skaters from Aichi Prefecture Japanese female single skaters People from Kitanagoya 21st-century Japanese sportswomen World Junior Figure Skating Championships medalists