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Tessa Virtue

Tessa Virtue is a Canadian former competitive ice dancer best known for her partnership with Scott Moir.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tessa Virtue is a Canadian former competitive ice dancer best known for her partnership with Scott Moir. Together, they became one of the most successful ice dance teams in history, winning Olympic, World, and national titles. Virtue was born in London, Ontario, and later pursued work and study outside elite competition after retiring from skating.

Early life and background

Tessa Virtue was born in London, Ontario, and began skating after an early background in dance. She later partnered with Scott Moir as a child, beginning a long competitive collaboration.

Competitive career

Virtue and Moir rose through junior and senior figure skating ranks to become leading international ice dancers. Their achievements include Olympic, World, Four Continents, and Canadian national titles. They were three-time World champions, winning in 2010, 2012, and 2017, and also won the ISU Four Continents Championships three times and the Grand Prix Final in 2016–17.

Olympic success

Virtue and Moir won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and again at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, with silver in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Their five total Olympic medals made Virtue one of the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history.

Retirement and later work

Virtue announced her retirement in 2019 after ending her competitive skating career. She later pursued graduate study and professional work outside competition.

Key facts

  • Tessa Virtue is a Canadian former ice dancer who competed with Scott Moir.
  • She and Moir won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2018, and Olympic silver in 2014.
  • They were three-time World champions (2010, 2012, 2017) and won multiple other titles.
  • Virtue retired from competition in 2019.
  • She was born in London, Ontario, and was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2020.
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Canadian context

Virtue is one of Canada’s most successful winter athletes and a major figure in Canadian figure skating, especially for her Olympic gold medals in Vancouver and PyeongChang.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Tessa Virtue?
Tessa Virtue is a Canadian former ice dancer who competed with Scott Moir and became one of the most successful figure skaters in Olympic history.
What is Tessa Virtue known for?
She is known for her partnership with Scott Moir and for winning Olympic, World, and national ice dance titles.
How many Olympic medals did Tessa Virtue win?
She won five Olympic medals: three gold and two silver.
When did Tessa Virtue retire?
She retired from competitive skating in 2019.
Where was Tessa Virtue born?
She was born in London, Ontario, Canada.
Who was Tessa Virtue's skating partner?
Her longtime skating partner was Scott Moir.

References

  1. Olympic.ca — https://olympic.ca/team-canada/tessa-virtue/
    Supports: Birth details, residence, Olympic achievements, and Order of Canada note.
  2. International Skating Union — https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/pairs/tessa-virtue-scott-moir/
    Supports: Date of birth, partnership with Scott Moir, and major competitive achievements.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tessa-Virtue-and-Scott-Moir
    Supports: Biographical overview and Olympic gold medals.
  4. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/tessa-virtue-and-scott-moir
    Supports: Summary of Olympic medal record and historical significance in Canadian sport.
  5. Windsor Public Library — https://windsorpubliclibrary.com/tessa-virtue/
    Supports: Birthplace, early training, education, and career overview.