Oh Canada! After more than two decades together, our favourite skating duo, Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue have announced their retirement. The pair
posted a video on their individual Twitter accounts late Tuesday, saying that they plan on ‘stepping away from the sport’ following the conclusion of their upcoming cross-Canada Rock The Rink Tour, which kicks off October 5 in Abbortsford, BC and ends November 23 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.Virtue and Moir picked the most fitting space possible to say their goodbyes, with the longtime partners skating around an
empty rink together as clips from their incredible career were interspliced. "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?""Twenty-two years and it's been -- I can't put that into words," said Moir. "I'm not going to be emotional, this is my first selfie video ever and I'm not going to cry in it." That’s fine, Scott. We’re crying enough for you.The announcement video doesn’t come as a huge surprise as many suspected that Moir and Virtue would announce their retirement following their incredible showing at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, where they won gold in both the individual and team events. The two wins brought the pair to a total of five Olympic medals, winning gold in ice dancing on their home soil at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and two silver medals in Sochi in 2014.Virtue, 30, and Moir, 32, first began skating together the London, ON area and have gone on to become two of the most famous athletes in Canadian history. The pair’s incredible talent and undeniable chemistry on ice often made for questions about their personal relationship, but the longtime partners have continued to maintain their stance as friends, with Moir even announcing his
engagement earlier this year to Jackie Mascarin.Moir and Virtue concluded their emotional video by celebrating the next generation of Canadian skaters, remaining the class acts the world has fallen in love with. "We're in such good hands in Canada," said Virtue. "The next generation of skaters is going to blaze new trails, break all of our records and we can't wait to cheer them on."
