'Hometown heroes:' Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue named Canada's Olympic flag bearers

It was in an Ilderton Ont., community arena that a nine-year-old Scott Moir and seven-year-old Tessa Virtue would first meet, give into their butterflies and date for onemonth.

• Figure skaters Tessa Virtue, Scott Moirnamed Canada's flag-bearers

Even though thedynamic duo's puppy love would quickly wither, they would remain inseparable, earning the responsibility of carrying the Canadian flag into the 2018 Olympic opening ceremony.

Pegged as "hometown heroes" the duo's figure skatingvictories are plastered across the walls of the southwestern Ontario arena where Moir's aunt Carol Moir, first paired the two together as their former coach.

"There was just something about them, something special. It's the glide to their skating, the musicality, how they treated each other and how hard they worked. Everything," she said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Tuesday that Moir, from Ilderton, and Virtue, from London, will lead about 230 Canadian athleteson Feb. 9, into PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

• Virtue & Moir: Canadian Olympic athletes of the year

A rock star doesn't happen overnight, there's always lots of hard work that goes into it,- Alma Moir, Scott Moir's mom

"They may have dreamed about being a flag bearer but I don't think it's something they thought was possible,"said AlmaMoir, the 30-year-old's mom.

Now, dozens of local children use the same rink as a training ground, looking up at posters of the eight-time national champs staring down at the time, hoping the talent will rub off.

Hometown heroes

"I want to be like them. I want to ask them. 'How did you do it? Did you practice lots?'" asked eight-year-old Nick McClymont at the arena on Tuesday.

Bill Holcombe has some answers.

The facilities operator of the IldertonArena watched the duo train for about two decades.

They no longer visit the small town on London's rim as frequently, but when they do, they're greeted by five Olympic rings scattered across Ilderton in their honour.

"They're definitely the pride and joy for Ilderton It's been fun over the years to watch them grow and see the nice, responsible adults they have become," he said.

"They want to be the best, the way they train, just every little detail, they want to be the best and they wouldn't accept anything but the best but they won't quit until they are the best."

Arena staff said the pair's success has put the town on the map, drawing crowds to skate and sign up at the rink tourists, from as far as China, have paid the arena a visit to see where Moir and Virtue got their start.

Send-off

The pair came out on top on Saturday when they captured their eighth Canadian figure skating title at the national championships.

• Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir aiming for perfection at skating nationals

Following their most recently announcement on Tuesday, the pair told CBCNews that they have "pride in representing a nation whose values stand for unity, diversity, fairness and inclusion."

Their friends and family will be hosting a send-off at the IldertonArena on Saturday while the pair will be training in Montral.