Words from Whistler

Dancing their Way to Gold

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir made history yesterday at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics when they became the youngest and first North Americans to win the Olympic gold medal in Ice Dancing. Their performance was breath taking, their chemistry was undeniable and the result was what they and every Canadian had dreamed it could be. Olympic Gold for Canada!

Ice Dancing is a sport that requires two people to skate as one. The pair must cover the entire ice surface with speed and grace, and invoke within the viewer an emotion that pulls you into the story being told through music and choreography. The intricacy of the footwork, lifts and spins is all the more powerful when it feels as if the couple is floating across the ice. You should not be distracted from the emotional flow of the program by thinking “that move looked difficult.” Virtue and Moir told a beautiful story to Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony and judging from the tears streaming down the cheeks of the people watching their program here in Whistler, I would say everyone felt the passion and certainly shared their joy.

This is a story with a fairy tale ending. They believed in themselves, they believed they could win and Canada believes in Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Congratulations!

Keep watching for more "Words from Whistler" as Debra Gassewitz, President & CEO, SIRC, continues her stay at Whistler. You can find Debra at Whistler Canada Olympic House.