Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Tone Down Risqué Lift Ahead of 2018 Olympics
Canada’s top ice dancing duo, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, made a last-minute adjustment to their Moulin Rouge routine for the 2018 Winter Olympics after a lift was deemed a bit too provocative for the international stage.
The three-time Olympic medalists, known for their bold and innovative style, took out one of the more sensual elements of their free program—an intense lift that raised eyebrows during their dominant performance at the 2018 Canadian Nationals in January. The move involved Virtue flipping backward onto Moir’s shoulders in a straddle position, with his face positioned uncomfortably close to her pelvis before she elegantly spun back to the ice.
Upon reviewing the move on video, Moir noted that the position “wasn’t aesthetically that beautiful,” prompting the change. He emphasized the revision was less about appeasing critics and more about perfecting the choreography.
“We wanted to change it, make it a little bit better,” he told The Canadian Press.
Virtue, meanwhile, acknowledged the edge they were trying to bring to the routine. “We wanted to make a different kind of statement—something with edge, sexuality, even a touch of darkness. If that was the impact, then I guess we succeeded,” she said during a previous competition in Vancouver.
At one point, she even described the steamy routine as “a little porno” during interviews—highlighting just how far they pushed boundaries in a sport that often leans toward tradition and restraint.
In the revised version, Virtue still mounts Moir’s shoulders but holds the straddle for a shorter time before transitioning into a clean single-dip dismount.
Moir clarified that the adjustment wasn’t influenced by outside pressure from sponsors or networks, but rather by their own artistic vision and competitive goals—aiming for their second Olympic gold at the Games in PyeongChang.
“I think we liked that it made a statement,” Virtue added, “but for the full arc of the program, we feel this new version fits more seamlessly.”
The updated routine was debuted during a practice session at Gangneung Ice Arena and included in their performance for the team event, which also features their short program set to a rock medley of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and Santana’s “Oye Como Va.”
With their bold choreography and striking chemistry, Virtue and Moir continue to balance technical excellence with emotional storytelling—always pushing the sport’s boundaries while chasing Olympic glory.
