Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir hang up skates on sparkling career
Canada's double Olympic figure skating champions have announced that they are retiring from ice dance after a decorated career.
Figure Skating
Double Olympic gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are "stepping away" from ice dance after a storied career spanning 22 years.
The most decorated ice dancers in the history of the sport were the pride of the nation when they won the gold medal at their Vancouver 2010 home Games.
Silver at Sochi 2014 was followed by another gold at PyeongChang 2018, which confirmed the duo as the most successful ice dancers ever.
Beyond the medals, Canada's sweethearts had unforgettable on-ice chemistry which melted hearts and made the world of skating swoon, their avant-garde routines charged with expression and emotion.
The final announcement came through a video recorded by Moir, showing the couple skating around the rink with a simple "Thank you", and a love heart.
The message was posted simultaneously on both of their Twitter accounts:
"Hi everybody, we have some news for everyone, for our fans, for everyone who's supported us" begins Scott, "it's a little bit emotional so bear with us..."
Tessa VIRTUE
Scott MOIR
"We didn't know how to tell you, but I guess the best way for us is to go where we're most comfortable," continues Moir.
"This is home for us," says Tessa, skating in sync - naturally, with Scott, "we spent 22 years coasting around the outside of the rink, hanging out together, making programs, trying to just soak up our sporting experience."
As in-tune as ever, Tessa takes over again:
"After 22 years, it feels like the right time to step away from the sport," Virtue said. "This is so personal and emotional for both of us. We’re just so grateful. How lucky are we really that we got to share all of this together and with all of you?"
Virtue, 30, and Moir, 32, have been partners on the ice for 22 years.
Widely expected to retire after the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games, the final announcement didn't come until Tuesday 17th September 2019.
"Twenty-two years and it’s been — I can’t put that into words," Moir says in the video. "I’m not going to be emotional, this is my first selfie video ever and I’m not going to cry in it."
Household names in Canada ever since they swept to gold at Vancouver 2010, Scott and Moir may have called time on their competitive skating careers, but will continue performing on the ice in shows.
Right now they are currently preparing for a Canada-wide Rock the Rink Tour that begins in Abbotsford, British Columbia., on Oct. 5 and ends Nov. 23 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Both glide away from competitive skating with five Olympic medals each: Ice dance gold at the Vancouver Games in 2010, ice dance and team silver medals in Sochi in 2014, and one gold and one silver medal each in ice dance and team figure skating from Pyeongchang 2018.
Watch the top moments from Tessa and Scott's Olympic performances here: