There are many successful ice dancers spread all over the world but only a few can dream of attaining the things that Tessa Virtue has been able to accomplish in the field. Emerging as the champion of events and setting numerous records, it is hardly a surprise that she and her dance partner, Scott Moir, became London Sports Hall of Famers in 2010 irrespective of the fact that the honor was meant to be conferred on retired athletes whereas Tessa just kicked off her career. About 8 years later (in 2008), the two were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. That same year, ESPN recognized Tessa as one of the most famous athletes in the world.
With Moir, Tessa holds the record as the most decorated figure skater in Olympic history, the most decorated Canadian ice dance team, amidst a long list of other records and achievements. She won the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, has bagged the Canadian Figure Skating Championship 8 times, and a lot of other coveted accolades like the 2016-17 Grand Prix, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (thrice), the World Figure Skating Championships (thrice), and golds at the 2010 and 2018 Olympic.
In view of the foregoing, it is only natural that she’s someone a lot of people have been inquisitive about, below is her biography and fun facts that are worth knowing about the Canadian ice dancer.
Tessa Virtue’s Biography
It is easy to find that this fine ice dancer was born in 1989 on May 17. She was named Tessa Jane McCormick Virtue and her place of birth was in London, Ontario, Canada. Tessa is the youngest child of the four children that Jim and Kate Virtue gave birth to. To the best of our knowledge, Tessa Virtue has always been athletically inclined. As a lass, she was active in various sports and received training in gymnastics after it caught her interest. When she was 9, she became a student of Canada’s National Ballet School where she nurtured her interest in skating.
Growing up, she was one of the many kids in her neighborhood who attended the Catholic secondary school located in Windsor, Holy Names High School. The ice dancer later attended the University of Windsor where it was reported that she was studying psychology. A few years thereafter, it emerged that she was set to bag her degree from the public research university in her hometown, the University of Western Ontario.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have been partners since 1997. As the story goes, they were paired by Carol Moir, Scott’s aunt who happened to be their coach at that point in time. From the foregoing, it’s apparent that the partnership is a perfect one. The two made history as the youngest team to win the ice dance gold at the Olympics. Remarkably, they did this in their Olympic debut, becoming the first and only team to do so.
As the longest-standing ice dance team in the history of their country; Virtue and Moir, apart from being the first Canadians to win the Junior World Championship and the Junior Grand Prix Final, are ten-time Candian senior ice dance medalist and eight-times champions. In addition to that, they are three-times senior world champions and seven-time world medalists.
5 Interesting Facts To Know About Tessa Virtue
1. Relationship with Scott Moir
Owing to the chemistry between Tessa and Scott when they are performing, many have come to assume that the two share more than just being professional partners. To the best of our knowledge, this is not so. The two have expressed on several occasions that they are not lovers.
2. Height and Other Body Measurements
Tessa is almost 5 inches taller than 5 feet. Her height has been listed as 1.65 m and her weight, 50 kg. Also, it has circulated that her breasts, waist, and hips respectively measure 32, 23.5, and 34 inches.
3. She’s a Published Author and a TV Personality
With Steve, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir published a book titled Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold. As the title suggests, the book chronicled their career journey. Tessa is also a TV personality as she and her ice dance partner were the subjects of the W Network TV show, Tessa and Scott.
4. Tessa Virtue’s Net Worth
Unquestionably, this Canadian has had a fine career as an ice dancer. Disregarding the wealth she has been able to acquire directly from her career, she has enjoyed endorsement deals with big organizations like Visa, MAC Cosmetics, Adidas, and much more. While this has gone a long way to enlarge her wealth, the total value of her riches is best known to her. Some sources have estimated her net value at over $20 million whereas others have left it at just $2 million.
5. She Suffered Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (CECS)
Tessa Virtue once suffered an intense pain on her calves and shins which was diagnosed as CECS; she had to go through a surgery to fix the pain. It returned after the 2011 World Championship but she opted for other solutions rather than going through another surgery.