Tessa Virtue Opens Up About Life Beyond Olympic Competition During Milan Visit
Eight years after delivering one of Canada's most iconic Olympic performances, figure skating legend Tessa Virtue visited Milan, where she reflected on her remarkable career transition, family life, and enduring partnership with Scott Moir.
From Olympic Ice to Executive Advisor
Virtue, now 36, bid farewell to Olympic competition following the 2018 PyeongChang Games, where she and Moir captured gold with a performance that remains etched in Canadian sports history. While she has stepped away from competitive skating, Virtue has embraced new professional challenges as an executive advisor with Deloitte, balancing this role with family responsibilities as the wife of NHL player Morgan Rielly and mother to their son, McCormick.
Olympic Nostalgia and New Perspectives
During a warm Milan afternoon interview, Virtue described the complex emotions of attending Olympic events as a spectator rather than competitor. "It feels both familiar and very different," she explained. "Familiar in the sense that when I see Team Canada and interact with the athletes, it feels like being with the humans that I've grown up both admiring and also competing alongside."
Virtue expressed missing the clarity of purpose that defined her competitive years with Moir, when they shared one common goal that felt profoundly meaningful. Yet she also finds liberation in her new role, appreciating the opportunity to celebrate other athletes' successes without the intense pressure of competition.
The Enduring Connection with Scott Moir
The conversation naturally turned to Moir, Virtue's longtime skating partner who now coaches American teams. Moir had previously mentioned texting Virtue about the strangeness of experiencing an Olympics without her by his side.
"As soon as his teams qualified, I was elated for him," Virtue shared. "What a monumental feat to accomplish as a coach, and he's done it quite quickly since retiring, but it's so well deserved. He has worked very, very hard in this role."
Virtue described watching Moir's coaching debut as really beautiful and emotionally significant, noting that the Olympics represented something they had always experienced together. "It was such a meaningful moment that marked our separate paths, and yet we feel so connected," she reflected.
Balancing Multiple Roles
Beyond her reflections on skating and partnership, Virtue discussed the challenges and rewards of her current life phase. She balances her professional responsibilities at Deloitte with family commitments, all while maintaining her connection to the skating world that defined her early career.
"I feel like the perspective I've gained in the time since retirement allows me to show up here and fully appreciate what we had and also celebrate what's ahead," Virtue concluded, highlighting her ability to cherish past achievements while embracing new opportunities.
The Milan interview provided a comprehensive look at how one of Canada's most celebrated athletes has navigated the transition from Olympic champion to multifaceted professional, demonstrating that while the competitive chapter has closed, her story continues to evolve in compelling new directions.
