Shoma Uno and Marin Honda Switch to Ice Dance, Skating Couple Aims for Winter Olympics
Japanese figure skating stars Shoma Uno and Marin Honda have announced their transition to ice dance. The couple plans to compete as a pair starting next season with the ultimate goal of reaching the Winter Olympics.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 11:55
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Central News Agency (Tokyo, 22nd) - A major announcement has shaken the Japanese figure skating world. Former world champion Shoma Uno and former world junior champion Marin Honda announced today that they will form an ice dance partnership. They plan to officially enter the competitive circuit starting next season, with the goal of challenging for the Winter Olympics.
In a joint statement released via Instagram, the pair revealed that they have been training with the Olympics in mind since making the decision in October 2024. "We are moving forward through new challenges every day, and we are committed to engaging with ice dance with strong determination," they stated.
The statement also mentioned that both skaters have experienced both hardships and joys throughout their respective careers. Now, they hope to accumulate "days that satisfy each other" as a pair. They reached out to their fans, saying, "We hope to share the various sceneries we encounter during this challenge together. Please continue to support 'Shomarin'. Game on."
28-year-old Shoma Uno won silver at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and bronze at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in men's singles. He also achieved back-to-back world championship titles and was one of the leading figures in Japanese men's figure skating before announcing his retirement in May 2024. 24-year-old Marin Honda won the 2016 World Junior Championships and gained significant attention for her striking appearance and popularity. However, she struggled to break through after moving to the senior level and retired in January 2024.
The two have publicly acknowledged their relationship and previously collaborated on an ice dance program for an ice show produced by Uno. Their official announcement to compete in ice dance has drawn significant public interest regarding whether this couple will have the opportunity to stand on the Winter Olympic stage in the future.
The four current Olympic figure skating events include men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dance. Compared to the historic gold medal won by the pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, ice dance involves fewer high-difficulty elements such as overhead lifts.
In a joint statement released via Instagram, the pair revealed that they have been training with the Olympics in mind since making the decision in October 2024. "We are moving forward through new challenges every day, and we are committed to engaging with ice dance with strong determination," they stated.
The statement also mentioned that both skaters have experienced both hardships and joys throughout their respective careers. Now, they hope to accumulate "days that satisfy each other" as a pair. They reached out to their fans, saying, "We hope to share the various sceneries we encounter during this challenge together. Please continue to support 'Shomarin'. Game on."
28-year-old Shoma Uno won silver at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and bronze at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in men's singles. He also achieved back-to-back world championship titles and was one of the leading figures in Japanese men's figure skating before announcing his retirement in May 2024. 24-year-old Marin Honda won the 2016 World Junior Championships and gained significant attention for her striking appearance and popularity. However, she struggled to break through after moving to the senior level and retired in January 2024.
The two have publicly acknowledged their relationship and previously collaborated on an ice dance program for an ice show produced by Uno. Their official announcement to compete in ice dance has drawn significant public interest regarding whether this couple will have the opportunity to stand on the Winter Olympic stage in the future.
The four current Olympic figure skating events include men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dance. Compared to the historic gold medal won by the pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, ice dance involves fewer high-difficulty elements such as overhead lifts.
FAQ
What is the team name for Uno and Honda?
They are calling their partnership 'Shomarin'.