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Tessa Virtue (R) and Scott Moir of Canada perform during the ice dance free dance event at the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin March 26, 2010.GIAMPIERO SPOSITO

When Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the ice dance gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, it came at a higher price than anyone knew.

Virtue, who is missing the Skate Canada Grand Prix this week after undergoing surgery on Oct. 5, skated the Olympic season in pain. And after the Olympics, she went to Turin and won the couple's first world-championship gold medal.

Virtue, of London, Ont., and Moir, of Ilderton, Ont., missed half of the pre-Olympic season when Virtue developed an overuse injury and underwent surgery to relieve pressure in two of four compartments of soft tissue in her legs. They were supposedly on their way to Vancouver without complications, but Skate Canada's team physician, Marni Wesner, said Thursday that the pain evolved as she worked throughout the season, and after the Olympics, she was in significant pain.

The original surgery helped, but Wesner said Virtue began to develop pain in other parts of her leg. So day surgery was done to relieve pressure in the other two compartments. She did not stay overnight in hospital. Virtue has been undergoing rehabilitation and is reportedly pleased with the way it is going.

Wesner said she tells many of her patients that they can expect to resume some sporting activities within two weeks of surgery, but Virtue is a different story. She's an elite athlete, requiring higher levels of training. It might take her a little bit longer to hit full stride.

However, Wesner said there is hope Virtue can still make it to the Grand Prix in Paris Nov. 26 to 28.

"She's a remarkable athlete," Wesner said of Virtue. "The way she can skate and win Olympics and win worlds, knowing she is in a significant amount of pain. Nobody watching could suspect the amount of pain she was in. It's a matter of putting it out of your mind and skating in spite of it."

Canadian pair champion Bryce Davison, who skates with Jessica Dubé, had to skip Skate Canada after undergoing surgery on Tuesday to correct a joint disorder in his right knee.

The disorder, osteochondritis dissecans, was previously undiagnosed in Davison and he showed no symptoms before his knee locked up during practice over the weekend.

"He just landed a jump and caused a piece of bone in his knee to loosen up," Wesner said. Surgeons were able to put the loose piece of bone back in place and he's recovering well now.

Wesner said they have to see how he recovers from the surgery before thinking about getting him back into training. He'll be off his feet for a little while.

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