Virtue and Moir poised for ice dance gold after breaking world record

HELSINKI — Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir took the ice nearly two hours before the finals skaters in Friday’s short program at the world figure skating championships — a two-year hiatus from the sport had dropped them down the world ranking, leading to the early start.

But, when Canada’s ice dance darlings struck their final, dramatic pose to Prince’s Purple Rain, Virtue’s victorious fist pointed to the rafters, the mood among the adoring Hartwell Arena crowd was: Game over.

Indeed, the sport of ice dancing has missed Virtue and Moir.

The Olympic gold and silver medallists are poised to capture their third world title after roaring to 82.43 points, breaking their own world record in the short dance. And in the moments after their win, Virtue, a 27-year-old from London, Ont., talked about their quest to come back stronger than ever.

“I think that was a big part of the appeal in this comeback was to try and make our skating a little bit different,” Virtue said. “We are trying to push ourselves technically. We’re trying to have a bit of a departure artistically as well, but the real intention behind this comeback was to challenge ourselves.

“We knew that we were coming into a very deep and strong field so we needed to raise the level of our skating. We didn’t want to come back and do things the same way. That just wouldn’t have been motivating and inspiring.”

Two-time defending champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France are second with 76.89, while Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue are third at 76.53. All three teams train in Montreal with Canadian coaches Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon.

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., are sixth with 74.84 while Toronto’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are ninth with 72.83.

Virtue and Moir, a 29-year-old from Ilderton, Ont., took a twoyear hiatus after their heartbreaking silver at the Sochi Olympics, and have made a stunning return, dominating every one of their events and leaving broken world records in their wake.

The sport also missed Moir’s comedic relief. Asked about their partnership of nearly 20 years in the post-skate news conference, he answered: “It’s pretty cool to have a 20-year partnership and still really enjoy going into the rink every day, and still really love doing it with your partner.

“That didn’t sound very good,” he muttered, to laughter. “And she’s had quotes like that for 20 years. Let’s move on. Fast.”