Two-time Olympic figure skating medalist Shoma Uno is donning another professional mantle as a new member of the esports team Varrel.

“I have been playing games seriously, going beyond it being just a hobby,” Uno, 28, said at a news conference in Tokyo on May 1. “I hope that I can now make what I love into my job.”

Uno will compete in tournaments and events for Varrel while continuing his career as a professional skater, which includes producing his own ice shows.

The move solidifies a long-held passion for Uno, a well-known video game enthusiast who streams on his YouTube channel.

He is immediately putting his skills to the test as a competitor in the EVO (Evolution Championship Series) Japan 2026 fighting game tournament at Tokyo Big Sight, which runs until May 3.

Uno won a silver medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and a bronze at the 2022 Beijing Games. In 2023, he became the first Japanese man to win back-to-back titles at the World Championships. He retired from competition in 2024 but remains professionally active.