‘It’s so nice people are invested in us as a team’: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir on their relationship

It seems the world just can’t get enough of Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

After delivering a jaw-dropping, achingly sexy gold-medal performance at the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, Virtue and Moir have successfully captured the hearts of the world.

Performing to Moulin Rouge on Monday night, the pair captured the gold medal in front of a roaring crowd at the Gangneung Ice Arena with a total score of 206.07.

There has been much speculation about what the duo do before they hit the ice as they appear to share an intimate moment on the sideline — something Moir says they started in Vancouver.

“Right before our first Olympic performance we just hug and try and synchronize our breathing. With what we do, we have to be on the same page, every breath, every single little movement has to be in sync, so that’s kind of a tool that we use to make sure we’re on the same page,” said Moir.

“Also it’s a reminder that we put in this work for each other, we owe it to each other to enjoy the moment and that little hug is kind of one last reminder that whatever happens out there, we’ve got each other’s backs.”

Despite so many articles and people speculating that Virtue and Moir are a couple in real life, the duo insist they are not, but Virtue said they take the speculation as a compliment.

“We do love skating together and we do love storytelling and it’s been really fun to sink our teeth into these programs this year and delve into the characters and the emotions because I think that’s what resonates with people,” she said. “They’re universal themes that everyone can connect with.”

“It’s so nice that people are invested in us as a team and we’ve spent a long time working on this partnership and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team.”

With five medals to their name, Virtue, 28, and Moir, 30, are the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history, but they’re not 100 per cent sure what comes next. They are just reflecting on that gold medal skate that has now been watched by millions around the world.

“After the five minute warm-up, we had about 45 minutes of waiting as the other competitors took the ice and had their moments, and that’s when your mind can really race and you really start to doubt. But once we got back on the ice there was a sense of calm because that’s when we’re in our element,” Virtue said.

“We couldn’t wait for that music to start and we were thrilled to be able to perform that program that we love so much to the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge.”

-With files from Chris Jancelewicz