Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir continued their ascent up the ice dance world with a convincing win at the Skate Canada International event on Sunday in Quebec City.
Virtue, of London, Ont., and Moir, from Ilderton, Ont., who led from the beginning of the competition, thrilled the Canadian crowd during the free dance event in a memorable performance to capture the gold medal with a total score of 197.07.
Canada's Tessa Virtue, left, and partner Scott Moir conclude their gold-medal performance at the Skate Canada International event on Sunday in Quebec City.
(Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)
The Italian team of Anna Cappellina and Luca Lanotte placed second (171.57), while French pair Pernelle Carron and Mathieu Jost earned the bronze (167.83).
Virtue and Moir scored a 99.62 in the free dance to secure the overall title by almost 26 points.
Dancing the Michel Legrand classic Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Virtue and Moir displayed great balance through their combination spins and innovation with the rotation lifts.
The win should give the Canadians great confidence for the remainder of the season and reaffirm their status as rising stars.
"[The program] has come a long way," Virtue told CBC Sports. "But we definitely worked hard in the off-season and are pleased [with this result]."
Canada's Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno finished fourth with 152.16 points with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje placing sixth (148.77).
Gregory injured during warm-ups
The competition was delayed during the warm-ups after an injury to the American team of Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, drawing groans from the Quebec crowd.
The husband and wife pair, who stood fourth heading into the free dance, were attempting a rotation lift when it appeared Petukhov caught an edge and dropped Gregory chest first.
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