Canada
sent the largest contingent ever to Olympic Winter Games!
And were richly rewarded placing 3rd
in nations represented
after
closely tailing the power-countries of Norway and Germany!
Alone and Golden, On
Top of The World
(wrote Lori Ewing, a sports journalist)
Canadians, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir became the most decorated
figure skaters in Olympic history ~ after their ice-dancing 'free
skate.' They sang along to parts of their breath-taking Moulin Rouge
program as they whirled around the Olympic ice. Caught up in the
magnificence, they were 'alone in their own world' ~ Canada went
along for the ride! A partnership, 20 years in the making, Virtue
and Moir penned their own thrilling ending by capturing the Gold
Medal.
“It's
an overwhelming feeling because it is something we envisioned for so
many years,” Virtue said about their center-ice hug at the
program's end. “I couldn't help but think about the 20 years we've
spent working for this moment ~ and the incredible team of people
behind us.”
Coaches Patrice Lauzon and wife, Marie-France Dubreuil from Montreal
agreed.
“They're
a once-in-a-generation talent, that you seldom see.”
Moments before they step on the ice for their 'free dance'
and as they've done every skate for years, they've hugged for a half
minute...
eyes closed...Virtue's head resting on Moir's shoulder...
(“It helps us focus,” they said, “and melds our emotions
to the 'telling of the story.')
Dressed in a skin-tight backless red dress, with a high jewelled
neck, Virtue played the role of Nicole Kidman. Moir, in a mostly
sheer black shirt made a great love-struck Ewan McGregor. And
together they dazzled the Gangneung Arena crowd with their passionate
skate to “Moulin Rouge” ~ a movie they'd seen together when
Virtue was 11 and Moir was 13. They had wanted to skate to it ever
since!
Their personal-best score of 122.40 for the 'free skate'
and a world-record combined score
of 206.07 points
carried them past French rivals and silver medalists whose total
score was 205.28.
(I'm certain Moulin Rouge will become their 'signature performance)
The
Gold
was
their fifth career Olympic medal (breaking a tie with a previous
Russian pair).
Since
they first melted hearts when they were Gold
in Vancouver Olympics 8 years ago, Virtue and Moir have 'pushed the
ice-dance envelope' with their athleticism,
lifts, footwork and
in addtition have made sensuality
practically
a required element in the sometimes stuffy world of ice-dance. They
had the crowd roaring with another
gorgeous, soaring lift
that had Virtue bending backwards...her arms reaching to the rafters
victoriously...her blades balancing on Moir's thighs!
They certainly took 'chemistry' to a new level!
Virtue was just 7 and Moir 9 when they were paired together by Moir's
aunt...
it's
a partnership, in the London, Ontario area, that kept growing with
their love of skating.
Canada's longest-tenured team, credits those 2 decades and their
legitimate desire to skate together...
for
their uncanny ability to 'tell a story on ice.'
Moir, in the post-skate news conference stated,
“I
would never even think about skating with someone else!”
Virtue comments, “We're very proud of our business relationship and
it's been very special for 20 years,
“What
They Said” from the Canadian Press
Kristie
Yamaguichi (retired American skater):
“A dance event with roller coaster emotions. Congratulations to
Virtue/Moir on an awe-inspiring skate and history made.”
Dick
Button (retired American skater):
“ Your skate will be an iconic Olympic skating moment.”
Elvis
Stojko (retired Canadian skater):
Congratulations, you two!”
Arlene
Dickinson (Canadian business woman and star in CBC's Dragon Den):
“Tessa and Scott are what pure joy looks like. Magnificent!'
They skated for Canada: Always Their Dream!
“Sometimes,
you will never know the true value of a moment,
until it becomes a memory!” (Unknown Author)
Behind
the Scenes ~ According to Tessa Virtue
“We
put ourselves out there and we're the only ones on the ice! But it
takes a 'village' ~ we need to be surrounded by the right people...we
learned to utilize the members of our team better...so we know we can
rely on them...reach out for support...and approve things in a more
scientific way.
Their
choreographers vary from David Wilson and Sam Chouinard to our
husband and wife coaches
(Marie-France
Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon) plus several other technicians.”
Surprise
at the Games!
Hamilton, Ontario's “Arkells” (a Juno-winning rock band and
favoured musicians of both Tessa and Scott, arrived at the Olympic
Village to pay tribute to their special fans.) The Arkells played an
unplanned 90-minute concert set at “Canada House” on Saturday
evening in Pyeongchang before more than 600 people, including most
of the Canadian athletes participating in the Games.
The
band was introduced by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and were joined
onstage by other well-known Olympians including silver-medal women's
hockey team. Justine Dufour-La Poine (a silver-medal freestyle
skier) came up to sing Stevie Wonder's 'Signed
Sealed Delivered'. The
band closed with its latest Juno nominated hit, “Knocking
at the Door”
which was adopted as the unofficial theme song of the Canadian team
soon after the Olympics opened.
The Arkells were unexpectedly invited to South Korea the previous
week, arriving as guests of the Canadian Olympic Committee...and
without instruments...and no definite plans to perform. The COC
managed to find enough gear to allow it to stage this impromptu
concert...and put them up in a hotel 10 minutes from the Olympic
Village.
Little things done and given may seem nothing, but they give peace
like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless
but altogether, perfume the air. (Georges Bernanos)
Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 26, 2018
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