Rena Uezono (上薗 恋奈, Uezono Rena, born June 7, 2010) is a Japanese figure skater. 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.
| Rena Uezono | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native name | 上薗 恋奈 | ||||||||||
| Born | June 7, 2010 Aichi, Japan | ||||||||||
| Hometown | Nagoya | ||||||||||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||
| Figure skating career | |||||||||||
| Country |  Japan | ||||||||||
| Coach | Mihoko Higuchi | ||||||||||
| Skating club | LYS Figure Skating Club | ||||||||||
| Began skating | 2017 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
At the domestic level, Uezono is the 2023–24 Japan Junior bronze medalist and the 2022–23 Japan Novice A champion.
Personal life
editUezono was born on 7 June 2010 in Aichi, Japan. She looks up to fellow Japanese skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu.[1]
Her hobbies include playing the piano, cooking, and fashion.[2]
Uezono's figure skating idols are Mao Asada, Yuna Kim, and Yuzuru Hanyu.[3]
Career
editUezono began skating in 2017 at the age of seven after being inspired by watching Mao Asada perform at an ice show in her home region of Aichi.[3][4]
She won the silver medal at the 2020 Japanese National Novice Championships in the novice B category.[5]
2021–22 season
editUezono 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.[6] Following the season, Uezono joined Mihoko Higuchi's newly founded skating club, the LYS Skate Club. In turn, Higuchi began coaching her as well.<ref=GS24/>
2022–23 season
editUezono 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.[7] 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.[8]
2023–24 season
editAs the reigning national novice champion, Uezono was selected to make her international competitive debut on the Junior Grand Prix at the 2023 JGP Turkey. Fourth in the short program, she moved up to second overall after the free skate, taking the silver medal.[9] Weeks later she won gold at the 2023 JGP Poland, in the processing qualifying to the Junior Grand Prix Final.[10]
Based on her prior results, Uezono was considered a podium contender at the 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships.[11] She won the bronze medal, in the process qualifying to the senior national championships.[12] Next appearing at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Beijing, Uezono finished third in both segments and claimed the bronze medal there as well. She set new personal bests in both segments and overall.[13][14] She then competed at the senior national championships at month's end, finishing fourth, less than two points back of bronze medalist Mao Shimada. 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."[15]
Uezono finished the season at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Taipei. 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.[16]
2024–25 season
editUezono began her season on the Junior Grand Prix by competing at 2024 JGP Czech Republic, entering as the pre-event favourite.[17] 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.[18] She went on to place fourth again at 2024 JGP Slovenia.[19]
In late November, Uezono competed at the 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships, where she finished fifth.[20] This result ensured her qualification to compete at the senior championships.[21]
Programs
edit| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 [22][23] |
|
|
|
| 2023–2024 [4] |
|
|
|
| 2022–2023 [24] |
|
|
Competitive highlights
edit| International: Junior[25] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 | 24–25 |
| Junior Worlds | 3rd | |||
| JGP Final | 3rd | |||
| JGP Czech Republic | 4th | |||
| JGP Poland | 1st | |||
| JGP Slovenia | 4th | |||
| JGP Turkey | 2nd | |||
| National[25][20] | ||||
| Japan | 4th | TBD | ||
| Japan Junior | 18th | 13th | 3rd | 5th |
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew | ||||
Detailed results
edit| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 196.46 | 2023–2024 JGP Final |
| Short program | TSS | 67.87 | 2023–2024 JGP Final |
| TES | 38.79 | 2023–2024 JGP Final | |
| PCS | 29.08 | 2023–2024 JGP Final | |
| Free skating | TSS | 132.74 | 2024 World Junior Championships |
| TES | 71.73 | 2024 World Junior Championships | |
| PCS | 61.01 | 2024 World Junior Championships |
Senior level
edit| 2023–24 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 20–24, 2023 | 2023–24 Japan Championships | 6 66.22 |
4 134.47 |
4 200.69 |
Junior level
edit| 2024–25 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |
| November 15–17, 2024 | 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships | 10 58.06 |
5 122.63 |
5 180.69 | |
| October 2–5, 2024 | 2024 JGP Slovenia | 5 63.09 |
4 118.18 |
4 181.27 | |
| September 4–9, 2024 | 2024 JGP Czech Republic | 2 64.41 |
4 112.90 |
4 177.31 | |
| 2023–24 season | |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |
| Febryary 26–March 3, 2024 | 2024 World Junior Championships | 8 61.96 |
3 132.74 |
3 194.70 | |
| December 7–10, 2023 | 2023–24 JGP Final | 3 67.87 |
3 128.59 |
3 196.46 | |
| November 17–19, 2023 | 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships | 6 60.95 |
2 125.56 |
3 186.51 | |
| September 27–30, 2023 | 2023 JGP Poland | 2 64.85 |
1 127.46 |
1 192.31 | |
| September 6–9, 2023 | 2023 JGP Turkey | 4 63.64 |
2 124.07 |
2 187.71 | |
| 2022–23 season | |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |
| November 25–27, 2022 | 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships | 11 56.17 |
16 92.82 |
13 148.99 | |
| 2021–22 season | |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |
| November 19–21, 2021 | 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships | 20 49.32 |
18 86.73 |
18 136.05 | |
References
edit- ^ "フィギュア界次世代スター候補・上薗恋奈の素顔 宇野昌磨の恩師に師事「来季はトリプルアクセル」" [The real face of Rena Uezono, the next-generation star candidate in the figure world. Studying under Shoma Uno's coach: "Triple Axel next season"]. Nagoya TV.
- ^ "上薗 恋奈" [Rena Uezono]. Japan Skating Federation.
- ^ a b di Sanzio, Chloé (July 28, 2024). "Japan's Junior Sensation Rena Uezono". Golden Skate. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "Rena UEZONO: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Japan Novice B Ladies - Final Results". Japan Skating Federation.
- ^ "Junior Women - Final Results". Japan Skating Federation.
- ^ "JOCジュニアオリンピックカップ大会 第91回全日本フィギュアスケートジュニア選手権大会 - 推薦選手について" [JOC Junior Olympic Cup Tournament 91st All Japan Junior Championships - About the nominated athletes] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. November 2022.
- ^ "Exhibition Gala - Tokyo 2023 - #WTTFigure". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Ami Nakai (JPN) and Rio Nakata (JPN) secure Junior Grand Prix Final spot in Istanbul (TUR)". International Skating Union. September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Figure Skaters grab eight more tickets to the Final at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk (POL)". International Skating Union. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 17, 2023). "Mao Shimada Aims for a Three-peat at the Japan Junior Championships". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 20, 2023). "Mao Shimada Catches Up to Arakawa and Ando with 3rd Japan Junior Crown". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (December 8, 2023). "Shimada defends Junior Grand Prix Final title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 9, 2023). "Mao Shimada Achieves Historic First with Second Straight Victory at the JGP Final". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 25, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto Reigns Again at Japan Championships with Huge Score". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (March 1, 2024). "Mao Shimada defends Junior World title". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (September 11, 2024). "Kaoruko Wada Stuns Rena Uezono to Win in Junior Grand Prix Debut". Japan Forward. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ "Newcomers and Junior stars set highlights at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava". International Skating Union. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ "Rena UEZONO". International Skating Union.
- ^ a b c "JPN-Rena UEZONO". SkatingScores.
- ^ "The follow junior skaters have qualified for Senior Nationals:". X. Skate Japan News. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Rena UEZONO: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- ^ "2024木下トロフィー争奪フィギュアスケート大会 (8/3～4)" (PDF). Fuji TV. Fuji TV. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "高橋星名が全日本ノービス歴代2位のスコア、上薗恋奈が女子唯一の90点台で初優勝【全日本ノービス選手権・結果】" [Sena Takahashi has the 2nd highest score in the history of All Japan Novice, and Rena Uezono is the only female to win with a score of 90 [All Japan Novice Championship Results]] (in Japanese). Fuji News Network. October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "Rena UEZONO: Competition Results". International Skating Union.
External links
edit- Rena UEZONO at the International Skating Union
- UEZONO Rena at the Japan Skating Federation
- Rena Uezono at SkatingScores.com
- Rena Uezono on Instagram