As the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games reach their peak, Canadian icon Tessa Virtue remains a central figure in the national conversation, transitioning from the most decorated female figure skater in history to a prominent media voice and mentor.
While her long-time partner Scott Moir is currently making headlines in Italy as a high-profile coach for both Canadian and American ice dance teams, Virtue has taken on a leading role in the broadcast booth. She recently launched HerSTORY, a new short-form series in partnership with CBC and The Spotlight Agency. The series features Virtue conducting in-depth interviews with Canada’s top female athletes, providing a platform for their journeys during the 2026 Games.
Olympic Legacy and Personal Milestones
Virtue’s presence at the 2026 Games follows a period of significant personal change. In the summer of 2024, she welcomed her first child with husband Morgan Rielly, defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The couple, who secretly wed in 2023, have remained one of Canada’s most celebrated “power couples,” balancing Rielly’s NHL season with Virtue’s expanding media career.
Her competitive resume remains the gold standard for the sport:
- Five Olympic Medals: Three gold (Vancouver 2010 Ice Dance, PyeongChang 2018 Ice Dance and Team Event) and two silver (Sochi 2014 Ice Dance and Team Event).
- World Dominance: Three-time World Champion and eight-time Canadian National Champion.
- Historical Impact: Alongside Moir, she was the first North American ice dancer to capture Olympic gold, breaking a 34-year European stranglehold on the discipline.
The 2026 Ice Dance Landscape
The influence of the “Virtue and Moir” era is palpable in Milan this week. On 11 February 2026, Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier secured the Olympic bronze medal in ice dance, a feat that continues the legacy of Canadian excellence in the discipline established by Virtue.
While Virtue focuses on storytelling through HerSTORY, her former partner Scott Moir has been spotted behind the boards at the Milano Cortina venues, overseeing skaters from the Ice Academy of Montreal (I.AM). The academy, which Virtue and Moir helped propel to global fame, continues to dominate the podium, further cementing the duo’s lasting impact on the sport long after their 2019 retirement.