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Scott Moir

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Scott Moir is a retired Canadian ice dancer and professional coach. He is widely celebrated for his partnership with Tessa Virtue. Together, they became one of the most successful ice dance teams in history. They are recognized as the most decorated Olympic figure skaters of all time. Their career included winning multiple Olympic gold medals and several World Championships.

2018 Winter Olympics - Gala Exhibition - Photo 245
2018 Winter Olympics - Gala Exhibition - Photo 245

Ice dance is a disciplined form of figure skating. It requires intense synchronization and expressive movement between two partners. Moir and Virtue achieved a rare feat called a Super Slam. This means they won every major international competition in both senior and junior categories. They also set a world record score for the original dance. This specific type of program is now considered defunct by the International Skating Union (ISU).

Their partnership began very early in their lives. Virtue and Moir were paired together in 1997. At that time, she was seven years old and he was nine. They worked through many stages of competition over two decades. They were the 2004 Canadian junior champions. By 2007, they had risen to become Canada's top ice dance team. They even became the first team to earn a 10.0 for a program component score under the new ISU Judging System.

History was made by this duo during the 2010 Winter Olympics. They became the first ice dancers from North America to win an Olympic gold medal. This victory ended a 34-year winning streak held by European teams. They were also the youngest ice dance team to ever win an Olympic title. Additionally, they were the first to win gold during their Olympic debut. They also achieved the distinction of winning gold on home ice.

After their initial success, the pair faced many different competitive challenges. They won World titles in 2010 and 2012. They also earned silver medals at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships. In 2014, they won silver medals in both the individual ice dance and the team event. Following a two-season break, they returned in 2016. They had an unprecedented undefeated season in 2017. At the 2018 Olympics, they became only the second ice dance team to win two Olympic gold medals in the individual event.

Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy
Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy

Moir's personal background is deeply connected to the sport. He was born in London, Ontario, in 1987. He grew up in Ilderton, Ontario, in a family of skaters. His mother and aunt were both coaches. Interestingly, he began skating at age three to improve his hockey skills. He eventually moved to Canton, Michigan, to train under Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva. Later, he moved to Montreal to work with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon.

Since retiring from competition, Moir has transitioned into leadership roles. He currently serves as the Head Coach and Managing Director of the Ice Academy of Montreal campus in Southwestern Ontario. He coaches alongside his former training mate, Madison Hubbell. Moir also works as a choreographer for many professional skaters. His students include teams like Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.

Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy
Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy

His contributions to Canadian culture have earned him many prestigious honors. In 2020, he and Virtue were named Members of the Order of Canada. In 2023, they were awarded the Order of Sport. This honor marked their induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Moir has also received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of Western Ontario. These awards recognize his athletic excellence and his ability to inspire new generations of skaters.

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File:Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy.jpg
Carreira and Ponomarenko with Scott Moir...
File:2018 Winter Olympics - Gala Exhibition - Photo 245.jpg
2018 Winter Olympics - Gala Exhibition -...
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