Defining Moment – Day 11

Persistence, excellence, deliverance.

Gold for Canada.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have made history – in many ways…

Canada’s first Olympic Ice Dance Gold Medal.
North America’s first Olympic Ice Dance Gold Medal.
The youngest team to win the Olympic Ice Dance Gold Medal.

It really doesn’t get any sweeter than that.

Just when Canadians were starting to wonder if anyone was going to seize the moment again. Virtue and Moir stole the show.

Two kids who’ve been skating together since they were 7 and 9 years old – who dreamed what some thought was the impossible dream.

Not to them. Two of the best trained athletes I’ve ever covered, who never ever crack under pressure, delivered one of the greatest performances this country has ever seen in any sport.

I know what you’re saying – “it’s only ice dance for God’s sake!”

But it’s more than that. Way more.

Imagine having to skate the performance of your life with your entire country dancing every step with you. Imagine knowing that even the slightest misstep could cost you the prize you’ve most coveted your entire skating life.

Ice dance may look divine, pristine and sometimes delicately dainty but take your gaze off the sequins and twizzles and you’ll discover a sport that requires an incredible amount of athletiicism. These are some of the best trained athletes you’ll ever meet. Have you ever tried to do a high powered dance on a floor non-stop for four minutes? How about doing the same thing while wearing skates – mirroring the exact moves your partner does and then adding some acrobatic lifts and tricks?

And then try doing it while not making a single mistake.

That’s why Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are now Olympic champions and new Canadian heroes.

There’s no secret to their success. Consider they’ve been doing this together for the last 13 years and have never wavered from their goal.

Repitition. Mileage. Determination. And most of all… belief.

In the eye of the storm, Scott and Tessa’s willingness to believe in themselves, their training, and their remarkable talent won out.

Some athletes feel it helps alleviate pressure by treating the Olympics like any other practice.

These two treat every practice like it’s the Olympics.

That’s why they’re wearing gold medals right now.

Priceless and precious watching the two of them sing the national anthem like it’s never been sung.

Unforgettable to see Scott leap into his brothers’ Charlie and Danny arms. A family moment like you’ve never seen.

The Moir’s are from the small town of Ilderton, Ontario – population 1500 – and in a community where 1200 of them belong to the skating club, this was over the moon.

If you saw the footage of the people in Ilderton watching and dancing along with them during our coverage, you now understand how it often takes a community to raise a child – and country to salute a champion.

A dance with destiny has now created a legacy.

A legacy of gold.

Spun by two young magicians who are still only just kids…

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