| Rena Uezono | |
| Native Name: | 上薗 恋奈 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Birth Date: | 7 June 2010 |
| Birth Place: | Aichi, Japan |
| Hometown: | Nagoya |
| Height: | 1.60 m |
| Coach: | Mihoko Higuchi |
| Skating Club: | LYS Figure Skating Club |
| Beganskating: | 2017 |
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.
At the domestic level, Uezono is the 2023–24 Japan Junior bronze medalist and the 2022–23 Japan Novice A champion.
Uezono was born on 7 June 2010 in Aichi, Japan. She looks up to fellow Japanese skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu.
Her hobbies include playing the piano, cooking, and fashion.
Uezono's figure skating idols are Mao Asada, Yuna Kim, and Yuzuru Hanyu.
Uezono 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.
She won the silver medal at the 2020 Japanese National Novice Championships in the novice B category.
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.[1]
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.[3]
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 |
|
| |
| 2023–2024 |
|
| |
| 2022–2023 |
|
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|
| International: Junior | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 | 24–25 | ||
| align=left | bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd | ||||
| align=left | bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd | ||||
| align=left | 4th | |||||
| align=left | bgcolor=gold | 1st | ||||
| align=left | 4th | |||||
| align=left | bgcolor=silver | 2nd | ||||
| National | ||||||
| align=left | 4th | TBD | ||||
| align=left | 18th | 13th | bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd | 5th | |
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew | ||||||
| 2024–25 season | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | ||||
| November 15–17, 2024 | 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships | align=center | 10 58.06 | align=center | 5 122.63 | align=center | 5 180.69 | |
| October 2–5, 2024 | 2024 JGP Slovenia | align=center | 5 63.09 | align=center | 4 118.18 | align=center | 4 181.27 | |
| September 4–9, 2024 | 2024 JGP Czech Republic | align=center | 2 64.41 | align=center | 4 112.90 | align=center | 4 177.31 | |
| 2023–24 season | ||||||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | ||||
| Febryary 26–March 3, 2024 | 2024 World Junior Championships | align=center | 8 61.96 | align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3 132.74 | align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3 194.70 | |
| December 7–10, 2023 | 2023–24 JGP Final | align=center | 3 67.87 | align=center | 3 128.59 | align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3 196.46 | |
| November 17–19, 2023 | 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships | align=center | 6 60.95 | align=center | 2 125.56 | align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3 186.51 | |
| September 27–30, 2023 | 2023 JGP Poland | align=center | 2 64.85 | align=center | 1 127.46 | align=center bgcolor=gold | 1 192.31 | |
| September 6–9, 2023 | 2023 JGP Turkey | align=center | 4 63.64 | align=center | 2 124.07 | align=center bgcolor=silver | 2 187.71 | |
| 2022–23 season | ||||||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | ||||
| November 25–27, 2022 | 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships | align=center | 11 56.17 | align=center | 16 92.82 | align=center | 13 148.99 | |
| 2021–22 season | ||||||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | ||||
| November 19–21, 2021 | 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships | align=center | 20 49.32 | align=center | 18 86.73 | align=center | 18 136.05 | |
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.
As 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. Weeks later she won gold at the 2023 JGP Poland, in the processing qualifying to the Junior Grand Prix Final.
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, 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. 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. 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.
Uezono began her season on the Junior Grand Prix 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.[1]