They are the most decorated figure skaters in history, but that's almost secondary. When you talk about Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, you aren't just talking about gold medals or the "Super Slam." You're talking about that look. You know the one—the way Scott used to gaze at Tessa like she was the only person in a room of ten thousand people, or the way she’d lean into him after a grueling free dance, perfectly in sync even when they were gasping for air.
Honestly, they ruined ice dance for a lot of us.
In a sport where everyone is trying to sell a romantic story, Tessa and Scott weren’t just selling it; they were living it, at least artistically. For 22 years, they were the heartbeat of Canadian sports. They started skating together when they were basically toddlers—she was seven, he was nine—and they didn't stop until they had five Olympic medals and a legacy that honestly feels untouchable. But even now, years after they officially "stepped away" in 2019, the same questions keep popping up on Reddit and in Google searches. Were they ever actually a couple? Why did they stop? And what are they doing now that the sequins have been packed away?
The Partnership: More Than Just "Good Friends"
To understand the grip Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have on the public, you have to look at the sheer longevity of their partnership. Most people can't stay in a relationship for 22 years, let alone a high-pressure athletic partnership where your literal safety depends on the other person not dropping you during a rotational lift.
They were paired up by Scott’s aunt, Carol Moir, in 1997. It’s kinda wild to think about now, but Scott once admitted they actually "dated" for about seven or eight months back then. He was nine. She was seven. It ended over a phone call, which is about as dramatic as a third-grade breakup gets. But that early connection grew into a bond that Scott famously described as "us against the world."
The Technical Magic
It wasn't just chemistry, though. It was the "unison." If you watch their 2010 Mahler program or the 2018 Moulin Rouge, their blades hit the ice at the exact same millisecond. It’s spooky. They didn't just skate next to each other; they skated as one single unit.
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- The Goose: Their signature lift where Tessa balances on Scott’s back with her arms extended like wings. It was daring, technically "borderline illegal" by some rigid standards, and utterly iconic.
- The Twizzles: Most skaters dread twizzles. Tessa and Scott made them look like they were controlled by the same remote.
- The Emotional Range: They could do the "innocent" classical ballet style, but they could also turn up the heat so much that the IOC allegedly told them to tone down their Moulin Rouge lift for being too suggestive.
The Question Everyone Asks: Did They Date?
Let’s be real. This is why the internet stays obsessed. During the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, the entire world was convinced they were secretly married. Every interview was a masterclass in "coy non-denials." When asked if they were a couple, they’d say things like, "What we have is a very cool relationship," or "It’s a complicated, intense friendship."
Basically, they gave the fans everything and nothing all at once.
The truth is a bit more grounded. Scott Moir is now married to Jaclyn Mascarin—who, in a twist of fate, was actually his very first skating partner before Tessa. They have a daughter together. Tessa Virtue is married to Morgan Rielly, the star defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Wait, so was it all an act?
Not exactly. Even though they weren't a romantic couple in the traditional sense, the intimacy was real. You can't spend 22 years touching, sweating, crying, and winning with one person without developing a love that defies standard categories. Scott once said, "Everybody should have a Tessa," and honestly, he wasn't wrong. They were "work spouses" on a global, high-stakes stage.
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The Comeback and the Final Bow
After winning gold in Vancouver (2010) and silver in Sochi (2014), most people thought they were done. They took a two-year break. They did the stars-on-ice tours. They seemed retired.
But the 2014 silver stung. They felt like they hadn't finished their story on their own terms. When they announced their comeback for the 2018 cycle, the ice dance world shifted. They moved to Montreal to train under Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, shifting their style from "pretty and classical" to "gritty and athletic."
The 2018 Olympics was the ultimate showdown. They were trailing their French rivals, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, in the free dance. The pressure was suffocating. But their Moulin Rouge performance was a masterclass in athletic storytelling. They won the gold, making them the most decorated figure skaters ever.
Life After the Rink: Where Are They Now?
Since retiring in September 2019, Tessa and Scott have taken very different paths, which is probably why they aren't seen together as much as fans would like. It’s a bit like when a legendary band breaks up—they’re still friends, but they’re doing their own solo albums now.
Tessa’s Power Moves
Tessa didn't just sit back and relax. She went full-throttle into the corporate and academic world.
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- Academic Excellence: She earned her MBA from the Smith School of Business and a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from UPenn.
- Corporate Life: She’s now an executive advisor at Deloitte. She uses what she learned about high-stakes performance to help CEOs and leaders handle pressure.
- Brand Power: She’s been the face of Nivea, HelloFresh, and Adidas, proving that her "brand" as Canada’s sweetheart has serious staying power.
Scott’s Coaching Career
Scott, on the other hand, stayed close to the ice. He’s now a high-level coach and the Managing Director of the I.AM. Ontario skating academy. He’s passing on that "Moir magic" to the next generation of ice dancers. If you watch him on the sidelines of competitions now, he’s just as intense as he was as a competitor, pacing and living every edge with his students.
Why Their Legacy Still Matters
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir changed the "rules" of ice dance. Before them, the sport was often seen as a bit stiff, a bit too much like ballroom dancing on ice. They brought a level of raw, athletic power that made it feel like a contact sport.
They also proved that a partnership between a man and a woman doesn't have to be "just" a romance or "just" a friendship to be meaningful. It can be this weird, beautiful, lifelong thing that doesn't fit into a neat little box.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're looking to channel a bit of that Virtue/Moir energy into your own life, here’s what we can learn from their 22-year run:
- Communication is King: They famously worked with sports psychologists and even "partnership counselors" to navigate their relationship. They didn't just "hope" it would work; they worked on it.
- Adapt or Die: Their 2018 comeback worked because they were willing to change their style. They didn't try to win with their 2010 vibe. They evolved.
- Know When to Walk Away: They left at the absolute top. No "sad" comeback years where they finished fifth. They ended with a gold medal and a microphone drop.
If you want to relive the magic, the best place to start is their official autobiography, Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold. It’s one of the few places where they really pull back the curtain on the "heartache and frustration" that went on behind those perfect Olympic smiles.
You can also find Scott's current work through Skate Canada and the I.AM Academy, where the next generation of skaters is currently trying to figure out how to twizzle even half as well as the legends did.
Next Steps to Deepen Your Knowledge:
- Watch the "Evolution" Video: Go to YouTube and watch their 2006 Junior Worlds win vs. their 2018 PyeongChang win. The difference in power and speed is a masterclass in athletic growth.
- Read "Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold": It's the most honest account of their 22-year partnership, including the times they didn't actually get along.
- Follow Their Professional Pages: Check out Tessa Virtue's LinkedIn for her insights on positive psychology and performance, or Scott Moir's coaching updates via the I.AM. Ontario skating academy to see the future of Canadian ice dance.