Tessa Jane McCormick Virtue (born May 17, 1989) is a Canadian retired . With ice dance partner Scott Moir, she 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 gold medallists. Virtue and Moir 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 they became 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, aged 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 team 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
Virtue was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada.[ Born to Kate and Jim Virtue, she is the youngest of four children. She attended Holy Names High School in Windsor, Ontario, in addition to an electronic learning school called AMDEC based in Stratford, Ontario. She began skating at age six, having felt motivated to do so after a school field trip was set to take place at an ice arena.][ As a child, Virtue was also trained in gymnastics, track and other sports. She studied psychology at the University of Windsor in 2007,][ and as of 2014 was completing her degree at the University of Western Ontario.][ Virtue began the Executive MBA program at Queen's University in the fall of 2020.]
In 2004, Virtue began living in Canton, Michigan, in the US, to train under Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva. After the 2014 Olympics, she moved back to London, Ontario. In 2016, she moved to Montreal, Quebec, where she and Moir were coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon.[ Virtue and Moir have previously described themselves as being each other's "best friend".][ Virtue added, "It’s a special partnership. We both think the world of one another."][
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After several years of dating, Virtue became engaged to Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly in early 2023.
Career
Non-competitive career
In October 2010, Virtue, Moir, 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 their TV show, Tessa and Scott, which focuses 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.
She and Moir 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.
In 2015, Hillberg & Berk announced their collaboration with Tessa Virtue. In October of the same year, they launched Tessa Virtue collection of jewelry, which she helped design.
In 2017, BonLook announced a glasses collaboration with Virtue. The BonLook X Tessa Virtue collection was launched in January 2018.
Throughout Virtue and Moir's competitive skating career they have been sponsored by many Canadian companies;
Records and achievements (with Moir)
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 the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. 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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Following 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Tessa Virtue was named one of the most famous female athletes in the world by ESPN. Virtue is the highest placed Canadian female athlete and second highest placed female winter sports athlete.
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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, Virtue, together with Moir, received a Honorary degree (LLD) from The University of Western Ontario at the university's 314th Convocation, where she attended briefly.
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On November 27, 2020, Governor General of Canada named Virtue and Moir as Members of the Order of Canada.
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In 2023 they were awarded the Order of Sport, marking induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Programs
Competitive highlights
Ice dance with Scott Moir
Detailed results
External links
