Canada’s sweethearts Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have captivated the figure skating scene since being paired together in 1997. The pair glided across the ice in a sport called ‘ice dance’, a form of figure skating that draws on ballroom dancing. With 55 international medals won during their 22-year partnership, their retirement in 2019 gives hope for new athletes to rise to the occasion.

Eager to show off their range of skills is the decade-old partnership consisting of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. Following his split with his former ice dance partner, Poirier reached out to Gilles in 2011 in hopes of teaming up. Having trained and competed as an American athlete since her career began, Gilles – who is half Canadian – needed to obtain her citizenship. As a result, this delayed the beginning of their Olympic career. 

Having earned 34 podium medals together at national and international events, Gilles and Poirier are hungry to return to the Olympics after placing 8th in 2018. Known for their crowd-pleasing choreography and exquisite artistry, the couple have planned an Elton John medley for their rhythm dance and will perform their free dance to the song “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles; an accurate description of their journey to this moment, they say. With over 400 days between competitions, the pair have trained extensively and have high hopes for their return to the ultimate athletic stage. 

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics start on February 4th. Whether or not Poirier and Gilles can live up to their own expectations and fill the void left by Canada’s sweethearts will be discovered then.