Scott Patrick Moir ( ; born September 2, 1987) is a Canadian retired ice dancer and coach. With ice dance partner Tessa Virtue, he is the 2010 and 2018 Olympic champion, the 2014 Olympic silver medallist, a three-time World champion (2010, 2012, 2017), a three-time Four Continents champion (2008, 2012, 2017), the 2016–17 Grand Prix Final champion, an eight-time Canadian national champion (2008–2010, 2012–2014, 2017–2018), the 2006 World Junior champion and the 2006 Junior Grand Prix champion. Moir and Virtue are also the 2018 Olympic gold medallists in the team event and the 2014 Olympic silver medallists in the team event. Upon winning their third Olympic gold medal, they became the most decorated Canadian ice dance team of all time and the most decorated Olympic figure skaters of all time.[ Widely regarded as one of the greatest ice dance teams of all time,][
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Virtue and Moir were paired in 1997, at the ages of seven and nine. They are the 2004 Canadian junior champions and became Canada's top ice dance team in 2007. They are the 2008 World silver medallists and the 2009 World bronze medallists and became the first ice dance team to receive a 10.0 for a program component score under the new ISU Judging System.[ In 2010, they became the first ice dancers from North America to win an Olympic gold medal, ending the 34-year streak of the Europeans. Virtue and Moir are the youngest ice dance team ever to win an Olympic title, the first ice dancers to win a gold medal in their Olympic debut, and the first ice dance team to win Olympic gold on home ice.][
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Virtue and Moir continued to be one of the world's top ice dance teams after their first Olympic victory in 2010. They are the 2010 and 2012 World champions, the 2011 and 2013 World silver medallists, and the 2014 Olympic ice dance and team event silver medallists. After taking a two-season break from the sport, they returned to competition in the fall of 2016 and became the 2017 World champions, having an unprecedented undefeated season. At the 2018 Olympics, they became only the second ice dance team in history to have won two Olympic gold medals in the individual event.
Having skated together for over twenty years, Virtue and Moir are the longest-standing ice dance partnership in Canadian history.[ In 2018, Time magazine noted that "they've become especially beloved by new and returning spectators alike for their passionate performances and undeniable chemistry, on and off the ice."][ On September 17, 2019, Virtue and Moir announced that they are "stepping away" from the sport after 22 years as ice dancing partners.]
Personal life
Moir was born in London, Ontario, Canada[ to Alma (née MacCormack) and Joe Moir, and was raised in Ilderton, Ontario.][ The youngest of three sons, he is the brother of Danny Moir and Charlie Moir. Moir comes from a skating family,][ with his mother and aunt being coaches and both of his older brothers having previously skated competitively. His cousins Sheri Moir and Cara Moir also took part in the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships as members of Canada's NEXXICE team.][ Moir attended Medway High School, in addition to an electronic learning high school called AMDEC, and eventually finished his secondary education following the 2014 Olympics. He began skating at age three, and was initially encouraged by his mother to take up figure skating as a way to improve his performance in hockey, which he played competitively well into his teens.
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In 2004, Moir began living in Canton, Michigan, in the US, to train under Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva. After the 2014 Olympics, he moved back to Ilderton, Ontario. In 2016, he moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he and Virtue were coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon
In August 2019, Moir confirmed his engagement to Florida-based physician assistant Jaclyn Mascarin, who was also his first ice dance partner, at the Canada Walk of Fame Hometown Star Ceremony.
Career
Non-competitive career
In October 2010, Moir, Virtue and co-writer Steve Milton published a book about their career called Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold.[ In late 2013, they filmed a reality TV show, Tessa and Scott, which focused on their training for the Olympics. The show aired on W network in January 2014.][
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Virtue and Moir toured with Stars on Ice in Canada and Japan in the offseason since 2010 and during their break from competition. They performed in ice shows such as Festa on Ice, Shall We Dance On Ice, and All That Skate. They also participated in Art on Ice in Switzerland and went on Gold Medal Plate auction trips multiple times.
He and Virtue co-produced and skated in their own ice skating show, The Thank You Canada Tour in 2018. Following on from that success, they co-produced the Rock the Rink tour in 2019.
Throughout Virtue and Moir's competitive skating career, they have been sponsored by many companies,
Coaching and choreographing career
Following the end of his competitive career, Moir initially worked part-time as a consultant coach with teams such as Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha. On February 2, 2021, it was announced that Moir had been appointed Head Coach and Managing Director of the new Ice Academy of Montreal campus in Southwestern Ontario, to be located in London, Ontario.[
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There, he currently coaches alongside former training mates, Madison Hubbell and Adrián Díaz. His current and former students have included:
As a choreographer, Moir has worked with:
Records and achievements
Awards and honours
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Virtue and Moir were inducted in London (ON) Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 after winning gold in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic. It was a somewhat unusual decision because the guidelines for athletes to be considered for induction is retirement from their sport for a period of two years while Virtue and Moir were just at the beginning of their career. Furthermore, the induction event was moved into September that year so as not to interfere with the upcoming skating season.
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Virtue and Moir were honoured as the Canadian Olympic athletes of the year by CBC in December 2017.
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In early May 2018, Virtue and Moir were awarded Partnership of the Year, along with pairs skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, at the 45th Sports Québec gala.
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In December 2018, Virtue and Moir were inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in the Sports and Athletics category.
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On October 23, 2019, Moir, together with Virtue, received a Honorary degree (LLD) from the University of Western Ontario at the university's 314th Convocation.
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On November 27, 2020, Governor General of Canada named Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue as Members of the Order of Canada.
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In October 2023, Virtue and Moir were awarded the Order of Sport, marking their induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Programs
Competitive highlights
Ice dance with Tessa Virtue
Detailed results
Senior level in +3/-3 GOE system after 2010
Senior level in +3/-3 GOE system until 2010
External links
