Tessa Virtue entered the record books in 2018 as the most decorated Olympic figure skater in history. Her career, defined by a 22-year partnership with Scott Moir, encompasses multiple gold medals and a unique status in the sport. Beyond the ice, she has pursued diverse academic and professional interests while remaining a prominent figure in Canadian athletics.
Early Development and Partnership
Born in London, Ontario, in 1989, Virtue began skating at age six after a school field trip. She teamed with Scott Moir in 1997 when she was seven and he was nine. This partnership eventually became the longest-standing in Canadian history.
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The pair achieved a Super Slam, winning all major international competitions at both junior and senior levels. They secured Olympic gold in 2010 and 2018, and silver in 2014. Following a two-season break, they returned in 2016 to remain undefeated through the 2017 season, eventually retiring from competition in September 2019.
Education and Post-Competitive Ventures
Virtue balanced her athletic training with academic pursuits, studying psychology at the University of Windsor and completing a degree at the University of Western Ontario. She later enrolled in an Executive MBA program at Queen's University and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2023 with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology. She has also engaged in commercial collaborations, including jewelry design with Hillberg & Berk and eyewear collections with BonLook.
Recognition and Public Life
Virtue received the Member of the Order of Canada in 2020 and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. Her career has been documented in the book Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold and the television series Tessa and Scott. In 2023, she married Morgan Rielly, and the couple welcomed a son in August 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 1989, London, Ontario
- Partner: Scott Moir
- Olympic Gold Medals: 2010, 2018
- Awards: Member of the Order of Canada (2020)
- Education: University of Pennsylvania, Queen's University
- Sport: Ice dance
- Retirement from competition: 2019
Questions readers ask
What is the duration of Tessa Virtue's partnership with Scott Moir?
Virtue and Moir skated as partners for 22 years, beginning in 1997 and concluding in 2019.
What major professional recognition has Virtue received?
She was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2020 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
Achievements
- Member of the Order of Canada
- Competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics
