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Tessa Virtue And Scott's Moir's Olympic Gala Tribute To Gord Downie Was Well Worth The Wait

They skated to the Tragically Hip's "Long Time Running." We turned into puddles.
Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform during the figure skating gala at the PyeongChang 2018 Games.
MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images
Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform during the figure skating gala at the PyeongChang 2018 Games.

As 2018 draws to a close, we're looking at some of the biggest stories that shaped our world and consumed our interest for the last 12 months.

Happy holidays to you and yours, and looking forward to more great stories in 2019.

We knew it was coming. We still weren't ready for it.

Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir announced earlier this week that they'd be performing to the Tragically Hip's "Long Time Running" at the Olympic figure skating gala.

The routine would be the last time Canadians and the world would get to see their beloved ice dance duo on the Olympic stage.

And when it happened Saturday night, we hung on every last gesture.

Fire. FIRE. Someone call the fire department.
ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images
Fire. FIRE. Someone call the fire department.

Every last lift.

The part you don't see here is she just casually stepped off his leg after and started skating backwards without looking down like it was nothing.
Getty Images
The part you don't see here is she just casually stepped off his leg after and started skating backwards without looking down like it was nothing.

Every last look.

Need help breathing over here, thanks.
Valery Sharifulin via Getty Images
Need help breathing over here, thanks.
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You can watch a replay of their performance here:

And then maybe you can tell us what Scott said to Tessa just before they started skating, which was the subject of much debate:

They don't even need to talk to communicate, let's be real.
AFP/Getty Images
They don't even need to talk to communicate, let's be real.

Introducing the world to the brilliance of the late Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip is a stroke of genius and probably should get Virtue and Moir an Order of Canada or a Senate appointment or something. On top of the honour of being the most-decorated figure skaters to date, that is.

Now the world knows Gord. And it's better for it.
Andrew Chin via Getty Images
Now the world knows Gord. And it's better for it.

And the lyrics to "Long Time Running" — perfect for this moment. Poetry literally in motion.

Does your mother tell you things?

Long, long when I'm gone?

Who you talking to?

Is she telling you I'm the one?

It's a grave mistake and I'm wide awake.

Hold on tight, Canada.
ARIS MESSINIS via Getty Images
Hold on tight, Canada.

We think Gord would have approved.

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