Canadian Olympic figure skating legend Scott Moir has found himself in an unusual position at the Games, drawing attention for wearing a Team USA jacket while coaching American athletes. The celebrated gold medalist, who won alongside partner Tessa Virtue at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, acknowledged that his new role might seem jarring to some Canadians.
From Athlete to Coach: A Different Olympic Experience
This marks Moir's first Olympic appearance as a non-participant, nearly a decade after his historic victory with Virtue. He described the experience as "absolutely different" from his time as a competitor. While he has enjoyed aspects like attending the opening ceremonies and watching other events, his focus remains on supporting his athletes during competition.
"We got to go out for a nice dinner and watch the opening ceremonies," Moir told Postmedia. "But you want to make sure that you're on for your athletes as well, and that takes a certain amount of preparation."
The Team USA Jacket That Sparked Conversation
During Monday night's rhythm dance event, cameras captured Moir hugging American skaters Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko after their performance. The image of the Canadian champion wearing a white U.S. jacket quickly circulated, prompting discussion among fans and observers.
"I've been wearing the American coat for six years now and I'm happy to do it," Moir explained. "I know it's getting a lot more attention at the Olympic Games, but it's not so strange for me."
The athlete-turned-coach acknowledged receiving significant social media attention about his choice of attire, particularly given the heated rivalry between Canadian and American skating programs.
Building Skating Schools in Canada
Moir elaborated on his coaching journey, explaining that his work with American skaters emerged from practical considerations about developing skating programs in Canada. As a competitor, he had to travel extensively to training locations in Detroit and Montreal, with other options being in France and Russia.
"We wanted to bring more skating schools to Canada," Moir stated. "We started a school in London, Ont., which is close to my hometown... I understood that you need international level athletes to be able to build a school."
He noted that his London-based program now has a team heading to junior worlds with medal potential, along with young Canadian skaters from the area who are close to earning Olympic spots.
A Coach's Perspective on National Pride
When asked about how Canadians might perceive him wearing another country's jacket, Moir emphasized his evolution from athlete to coach and his continued national pride.
"I have always been a proud Canadian," he affirmed. "Just so proud to wear the maple leaf on my back, but I'm more a coach of people now. I'm so proud of them and I happily wear that flag on my back when I'm part of their team."
Moir framed the situation as simply "changing jackets" while maintaining his dedication to his athletes' success. His comments highlight the complex identity transitions that elite athletes often navigate when moving into coaching roles, particularly when working across national boundaries in internationally competitive sports.
The discussion around Moir's coaching attire comes as he continues to build his post-competitive career while remaining connected to Canadian skating development through his London school and mentorship of young athletes.
