THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — Olympic gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will miss Skate Canada later this month due to injury.
The world and Olympic champion ice dancers are sidelined after Virtue underwent surgery last week to relieve nagging pain in her shins and calves.
The skater, who teamed with Moir to win Olympic gold at the Vancouver Games, had a similar operation in 2008 to relieve pain caused by compartment syndrome.
Virtue’s condition was assessed during the team’s high performance camp in September. Additional tests confirmed surgery was needed to alleviate the pressure in her legs.
Virtue and Moir had hoped they could postpone the surgery until after the 2010-2011 season but Virtue’s discomfort made the procedure necessary now. The duo hopes to return to competition later in the season.
Virtue, 21, is recuperating at home in London, Ont.
“It’s an enormous relief to have a solution to the pain,” she said in a release. “Apparently the surgery went really well and I am confident that I have the most competent support team to help me with my recovery. I am excited to get back on the ice as soon as I can and look forward to training and competing pain-free.”
Moir, a 23-year-old from Ilderton, Ont., was in London for Virtue’s surgery.
“In the bigger picture, this is a minor setback, and we’re excited at the prospect of Tessa being able to skate pain-free going forward,” he said. “It also shows just how strong Tessa was last year, and it was really amazing that she could shut out the pain and together we were able to achieve our dream of being Olympic champions.”
Moir plans to return to Michigan to resume his training.