Three-year-old Flynn Bright of Belleville got a chance to check out Tessa Virtue's gold medal.

Triumphant
Return

Arctic Edge Olympic ice dancers receive warm welcome 'home'

BY ED WRIGHT
March 4, 2010, 11:05 p.m.

  For close to an hour Thursday afternoon, skating took a backseat to signing (autographs), smiling (for cameras) and sharing (some unbelievable experiences) for the Arctic Edge's triumphant Olympic ice dancers during an informal welcome-home event in the lobby of the world-renowned Canton ice arena.

  Proudly wearing their shiny, pancake-sized Olympic medals, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who won gold; and Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who won silver, reflected on an incredible two-week journey with a select few Canton residents and members of the media.

  "Probably the coolest part of the experience was being in the Olympic Village and seeing all the different lifestyles," said Davis, as she autographed a skate for a young admirer. "It was cool to be among all the different athletes from all the different countries. It was such a unique experience compared to all the other competitions we've been in. It was really inexplicable."

  On Tuesday, Moir and Virtue flew into their hometown of London, Ont., where they received a hero's welcome.

  "It was wild," Virtue said. "We landed at the airport and there were so many people there and a lot of media. There were sirens going off. People have been so warm and supportive."

  White said the moment that followed their final free-dance performance was jam-packed with a number of emotions.

  "Mostly relief and satisfaction," the 22-year-old  University of Michigan student said. "It's such a big stage, the whole world is watching, so you really want to skate your best. You're kind of holding your breath throughout the program, but we skated tremendously well; definitely the best skating we've done.

  "It's definitely a huge sigh of relief when you finish, when you know you got through it so well."

  White said he tried not to think about how many millions of people were watching his and Davis's every move during their three Olympic performances.

  "We have so much experience building up to that point," he said. "The bigger the competitions got leading up to the Olympics, the more people were watching.

  "We really just try to focus on the people in the arena and the judges. It's not like, 'Oh my God, the entire world is watching!', although it is in the back of your mind."

  Virtue didn't hesitate when asked to share her favorite memory of the Olympics.

  "The most fun was the medal ceremony," she said, flashing a smile worthy of a gold medal. "I was just so happy, so excited and so proud. It was really a proud moment to be Canadian."

  Davis said the Olympic experience more than met her pre-Games expectations.

  "While we've been what would be considered on the big stage of figure skating for a long time, the Olympic stage is so far beyond figure skating itself," she said. "People we've known all of our lives who know what we've been doing have gotten a taste of how big it really is."

  The skaters all said they're more than happy to take on the enhanced responsibilities that come with being role models for thousands of aspiring skaters.

  "We're all down-to-earth people, and to have a chance to have a positive impact on young people's lives is just amazing," White said. "We remember when we were little and how cool it was when Olympians were at our rink. They were just the greatest."

  "The highest compliment we've received is when people stop to congratulate us and say that we're good role models for their children," Virtue said. "I think that's the nicest thing anybody could tell me, and we take it really seriously.

  "Obviously, we're focused on our own jobs, but we realize we are role models. I think it's great if we can inspire young kids and get them involved in sports."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.