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Winter olympic 2010 Vancouver
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she is medal contentor, now i dun know.
Skater’s mother dies of heart attack at Games
Olympics Notebook Skater’s mother dies of heart attack at Games
More Olympics news“A medal would mean so much to me,’’ said the reigning world silver medalist, a six-time national champion, earlier in the Games. “But I’m trying not to think too much because I want to be happy in my performance and happy in my career.
“I don’t want to define my life by what happened here.’’
Now, Rochette’s life will forever be defined by what happened this weekend in Vancouver.
Hours after arriving in the city to watch her daughter skate for gold, Therese Rochette, 55, had a massive heart attack, according to Rochette’s agent, David Baden. She was taken to a Vancouver hospital, where she was pronounced dead early yesterday, Skate Canada said.
Only a few hours later, Rochette was back on the ice, taking part in a practice session for tomorrow night’s short program.
“She’s so close to her mother, I think she doesn’t even entertain not skating,’’ Baden said. “She’s a tough fighter. It’s got to be hard to switch gears and say no to [the Olympics]. This is what she has been training for all these years. She’ll be trying to fulfill the goal they had together.’’
According to those in attendance at practice, Rochette was blinking hard during her first few laps around the ice, but then seemed to settle into the comfort of her routine. She showed no lapses in concentration, jumped well, and did a light run-through of her tango short program. She was applauded by the few people in the rink after her program and again when she left the ice.
“Her mum is very close to her, and a big part of her skating life,’’ said Skate Canada CEO William Thompson. “It would mean a lot to her mum and to herself. Her dad is here with her, as well as many family friends. They are very close and they are doing everything they can to support Joannie.’’
Baden said Therese and Normand Rochette, upon arrival from their home in Montreal, visited Canada House and then went back to the apartment where they’re staying. Normand later found his wife passed out, and when he was unable to revive her, he took her to Vancouver General.
Normand Rochette went to the Olympic village early yesterday to give his daughter the news.
“She’s going to get through this,’’ teammate Cynthia Phaneuf said. “She is just so strong. By being here and being able to compete after that happened, I’m just very impressed. I think she’s doing the right thing.’'
Skater’s mother dies of heart attack at Games
Olympics Notebook Skater’s mother dies of heart attack at Games
More Olympics news“A medal would mean so much to me,’’ said the reigning world silver medalist, a six-time national champion, earlier in the Games. “But I’m trying not to think too much because I want to be happy in my performance and happy in my career.
“I don’t want to define my life by what happened here.’’
Now, Rochette’s life will forever be defined by what happened this weekend in Vancouver.
Hours after arriving in the city to watch her daughter skate for gold, Therese Rochette, 55, had a massive heart attack, according to Rochette’s agent, David Baden. She was taken to a Vancouver hospital, where she was pronounced dead early yesterday, Skate Canada said.
Only a few hours later, Rochette was back on the ice, taking part in a practice session for tomorrow night’s short program.
“She’s so close to her mother, I think she doesn’t even entertain not skating,’’ Baden said. “She’s a tough fighter. It’s got to be hard to switch gears and say no to [the Olympics]. This is what she has been training for all these years. She’ll be trying to fulfill the goal they had together.’’
According to those in attendance at practice, Rochette was blinking hard during her first few laps around the ice, but then seemed to settle into the comfort of her routine. She showed no lapses in concentration, jumped well, and did a light run-through of her tango short program. She was applauded by the few people in the rink after her program and again when she left the ice.
“Her mum is very close to her, and a big part of her skating life,’’ said Skate Canada CEO William Thompson. “It would mean a lot to her mum and to herself. Her dad is here with her, as well as many family friends. They are very close and they are doing everything they can to support Joannie.’’
Baden said Therese and Normand Rochette, upon arrival from their home in Montreal, visited Canada House and then went back to the apartment where they’re staying. Normand later found his wife passed out, and when he was unable to revive her, he took her to Vancouver General.
Normand Rochette went to the Olympic village early yesterday to give his daughter the news.
“She’s going to get through this,’’ teammate Cynthia Phaneuf said. “She is just so strong. By being here and being able to compete after that happened, I’m just very impressed. I think she’s doing the right thing.’'
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she got the arsenal, but i also seen her crack into other competition. da is pressure
SEOUL—For nine years, Kim Yu-na practiced figure skating in anonymity in South Korea, a country with no history in the sport.
After Ms. Kim's entourage arrived in Vancouver on Saturday, her father told Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's largest newspaper, "The whole country thinks she is going to win, so the pressure is weighing down on her." At left, Ms. Kim in her training session during the 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 21.
A breakout performance in 2007 then thrust Ms. Kim, who was 16 years old, onto the international stage of elite figure skaters. It also put her into the hothouse of South Korean national heroes, a crucible where celebrity trappings mix with both ardent patriotism and insecurity about the country's identity and international reputation.
Now 19, she's the reigning world champion in women's figure skating and a favorite in the women's competition that begins Tuesday at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She's also the highest-paid sports star South Korea has ever seen and under tremendous pressure to deliver a gold medal for a country where individual success is often reshaped as national achievement.
Over the past two years, more than 300 South Korean companies tried to become Ms. Kim's sponsor and enlist her as an endorser, say marketers at IB Sports Management in Seoul, which fashioned deals worth nearly $10 million for her. The result: Ms. Kim's face is everywhere in South Korea, used to sell products as varied as bread, water, jewelry, cars and air conditioners. Last month, she donated 100 million South Korean won, or about $87,000, to Haiti earthquake relief, more than many Korean companies.
Ms. Kim's popularity with South Koreans is elevated by her beauty, humility in public and an impression that figure skating is a sport that has long been dominated by athletes from bigger, wealthier countries in whose company they now belong. As well, the toughest competitors Ms. Kim faces are from Japan, the neighboring country that South Koreans relish defeating in any athletic contest.
So for more than a year, nearly every story about Ms. Kim in the South Korean media touched on her prospects to win in a sport that, until she came along, the country showed no interest. In a typical story, South Korea's domestic news agency, Yonhap, wrote on Sunday that Ms. Kim is "gearing up to become the first South Korean to win a gold medal in figure skating."
SEOUL—For nine years, Kim Yu-na practiced figure skating in anonymity in South Korea, a country with no history in the sport.
After Ms. Kim's entourage arrived in Vancouver on Saturday, her father told Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's largest newspaper, "The whole country thinks she is going to win, so the pressure is weighing down on her." At left, Ms. Kim in her training session during the 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 21.
A breakout performance in 2007 then thrust Ms. Kim, who was 16 years old, onto the international stage of elite figure skaters. It also put her into the hothouse of South Korean national heroes, a crucible where celebrity trappings mix with both ardent patriotism and insecurity about the country's identity and international reputation.
Now 19, she's the reigning world champion in women's figure skating and a favorite in the women's competition that begins Tuesday at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She's also the highest-paid sports star South Korea has ever seen and under tremendous pressure to deliver a gold medal for a country where individual success is often reshaped as national achievement.
Over the past two years, more than 300 South Korean companies tried to become Ms. Kim's sponsor and enlist her as an endorser, say marketers at IB Sports Management in Seoul, which fashioned deals worth nearly $10 million for her. The result: Ms. Kim's face is everywhere in South Korea, used to sell products as varied as bread, water, jewelry, cars and air conditioners. Last month, she donated 100 million South Korean won, or about $87,000, to Haiti earthquake relief, more than many Korean companies.
Ms. Kim's popularity with South Koreans is elevated by her beauty, humility in public and an impression that figure skating is a sport that has long been dominated by athletes from bigger, wealthier countries in whose company they now belong. As well, the toughest competitors Ms. Kim faces are from Japan, the neighboring country that South Koreans relish defeating in any athletic contest.
So for more than a year, nearly every story about Ms. Kim in the South Korean media touched on her prospects to win in a sport that, until she came along, the country showed no interest. In a typical story, South Korea's domestic news agency, Yonhap, wrote on Sunday that Ms. Kim is "gearing up to become the first South Korean to win a gold medal in figure skating."
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so much pressure for a little gal, will she crack?
Yu-na to Skate 23rd in Short Program
By Kang Seung-woo
Gold medal favorite Kim Yu-na was happy with her draw for the women's figure skating short program event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The 19-year-old South Korean drew No. 23 in the 30-skater field Monday (KST), meaning she will be the 23rd skater to take the ice among her competitors. She will skate at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Kim's rival Mao Asada of Japan will skate ahead of her and Miki Ando, also of Japan, will go last. Canadian Joannie Rochette, whose mother died earlier in the day of a heart attack, will take the ice at 26th. Kwak Min-jung, the other representative of South Korea, is scheduled to perform 10th.
"I was hoping not to skate last," said Kim, who wore a grin after drawing her spot. "So I was really happy about it."
A total of 30 competitors are divided into six groups with five skaters in each. The top 10-ranked skaters are assigned to the last two groups.
Also in Kim's draw are Finland's Laura Lepisto (21st in the draw), Asada (22nd), Japan's Akiko Suzuki (24th) and Russia's Alena Leonova (25th).
The reigning world champion, who is chasing South Korea's first Olympic gold medal in the sport, has preferred not to go last because she does not like waiting and dealing with nerves.
In addition, the quality of the ice after four other skaters can affect the performance. (The ice is cleaned after each group.)
Kim, who arrived in Vancouver Saturday after her training in Toronto, had her first official practice session Sunday.
"Yesterday, the ice felt a little weird for me, but today, it was OK. I tried to train as I did in Toronto. Overall, it was a great practice."
Asada, hoping to give her country its second straight Olympic gold medal in the event following Shizuka Arakawa in 2006, was also satisfied with the draw.
"I think I drew a really good position because I want to finish early," said Asada, a former world champion, who arrived in Vancouver Sunday.
"First of all, I'm lucky because I can get on the ice soon after the group's six-minute warm-up."
Asada, born just 20 days after Kim in September 1990, believes that skating one spot ahead of Kim will be beneficial.
"If Kim Yu-na skates perfectly, I think I may hear great applause," Asada said.
"I try not to care about other skaters. But what if I hear such applause and the score gets into my head somehow?"
Ando, another former world champion, said she would make the most of being the last to skate.
"I actually like skating last, but not at the Olympic Games," the 22-year-old said.
"I think I'm going to get nervous, but I can't change anything. I hope to turn this nervous feeling into a good thing."
Meanwhile, Kim delivered condolences to the devastated Rochette.
"I just heard before practice. I just hope that she can get through this quickly and get back into the competition."
Yu-na to Skate 23rd in Short Program
By Kang Seung-woo
Gold medal favorite Kim Yu-na was happy with her draw for the women's figure skating short program event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The 19-year-old South Korean drew No. 23 in the 30-skater field Monday (KST), meaning she will be the 23rd skater to take the ice among her competitors. She will skate at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Kim's rival Mao Asada of Japan will skate ahead of her and Miki Ando, also of Japan, will go last. Canadian Joannie Rochette, whose mother died earlier in the day of a heart attack, will take the ice at 26th. Kwak Min-jung, the other representative of South Korea, is scheduled to perform 10th.
"I was hoping not to skate last," said Kim, who wore a grin after drawing her spot. "So I was really happy about it."
A total of 30 competitors are divided into six groups with five skaters in each. The top 10-ranked skaters are assigned to the last two groups.
Also in Kim's draw are Finland's Laura Lepisto (21st in the draw), Asada (22nd), Japan's Akiko Suzuki (24th) and Russia's Alena Leonova (25th).
The reigning world champion, who is chasing South Korea's first Olympic gold medal in the sport, has preferred not to go last because she does not like waiting and dealing with nerves.
In addition, the quality of the ice after four other skaters can affect the performance. (The ice is cleaned after each group.)
Kim, who arrived in Vancouver Saturday after her training in Toronto, had her first official practice session Sunday.
"Yesterday, the ice felt a little weird for me, but today, it was OK. I tried to train as I did in Toronto. Overall, it was a great practice."
Asada, hoping to give her country its second straight Olympic gold medal in the event following Shizuka Arakawa in 2006, was also satisfied with the draw.
"I think I drew a really good position because I want to finish early," said Asada, a former world champion, who arrived in Vancouver Sunday.
"First of all, I'm lucky because I can get on the ice soon after the group's six-minute warm-up."
Asada, born just 20 days after Kim in September 1990, believes that skating one spot ahead of Kim will be beneficial.
"If Kim Yu-na skates perfectly, I think I may hear great applause," Asada said.
"I try not to care about other skaters. But what if I hear such applause and the score gets into my head somehow?"
Ando, another former world champion, said she would make the most of being the last to skate.
"I actually like skating last, but not at the Olympic Games," the 22-year-old said.
"I think I'm going to get nervous, but I can't change anything. I hope to turn this nervous feeling into a good thing."
Meanwhile, Kim delivered condolences to the devastated Rochette.
"I just heard before practice. I just hope that she can get through this quickly and get back into the competition."
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miki ando not happy she is going last
Asada buoyed by luck of draw over Kim
Mao Asada believes she has an advantage over arch-rival and Olympic gold medal favourite Kim Yu-Na in the skating order for the women's short programme on Tuesday.
"I think I got a really good draw position because I want to finish early," the Japanese star said Sunday after she was drawn number 22, just before South Korea's reigning world champion Kim, in the 30-skater field.
Asada, the 2008 world champion, will take to the ice second in the second-to-last group of five skaters with another Japanese Akiko Suzuki skating right after Kim.
"First of all, I'm lucky because I can get on the ice soon after the group's six-minute warm-up," added Asada, who is making her Olympic debut with fellow 19-year-old Kim.
She added it would be worrying if she skated after Kim, who set a world best score of 210.03 points at the season-opening Grand Prix in Paris last October.
"If Kim Yu-Na skates perfectly, I think I may hear great applause," Asada said. "I try not to care about other skaters. But what if I hear such applause and the score gets into my sight somehow?"
But Kim -- who has lost just twice in the past two seasons, both times to Asada, at the 2008 worlds and the 2008-2009 Grand Prix final -- was also happy with the draw.
"I was hoping not to skate last," she said. "So I was really happy about it."
Kim will bid to become the first South Korean Olympic figure skating champion, when the free skating final concludes on Thursday.
"Yesterday the ice felt a little weird for me, but today it was okay. I tried to train like in Toronto. Overall it was a great practise."
But she added: "I'm not sure she'll (Miki Ando) like it."
Japan's Miki Ando, 22, put her hand to her head after drawing the unenviable position of last on the ice in the Pacific Coliseum.
"I actually like skating last but not at the Olympic Games," said the 2007 world champion.
"I think I'm going to get nervous but I can't change anything. This nervous feeling I hope to turn it into a good thing."
Canada's Joannie Rochette, whose 55-year-old mother Therese died of a heart attack early Sunday, did not attend the draw in which she was placed 26th, and will take to the ice first in the final group.
The six-time Canadian champion and reigning world silver medallist practised on Sunday morning just hours after hearing the news of her mother's death.
Asada buoyed by luck of draw over Kim
Mao Asada believes she has an advantage over arch-rival and Olympic gold medal favourite Kim Yu-Na in the skating order for the women's short programme on Tuesday.
"I think I got a really good draw position because I want to finish early," the Japanese star said Sunday after she was drawn number 22, just before South Korea's reigning world champion Kim, in the 30-skater field.
Asada, the 2008 world champion, will take to the ice second in the second-to-last group of five skaters with another Japanese Akiko Suzuki skating right after Kim.
"First of all, I'm lucky because I can get on the ice soon after the group's six-minute warm-up," added Asada, who is making her Olympic debut with fellow 19-year-old Kim.
She added it would be worrying if she skated after Kim, who set a world best score of 210.03 points at the season-opening Grand Prix in Paris last October.
"If Kim Yu-Na skates perfectly, I think I may hear great applause," Asada said. "I try not to care about other skaters. But what if I hear such applause and the score gets into my sight somehow?"
But Kim -- who has lost just twice in the past two seasons, both times to Asada, at the 2008 worlds and the 2008-2009 Grand Prix final -- was also happy with the draw.
"I was hoping not to skate last," she said. "So I was really happy about it."
Kim will bid to become the first South Korean Olympic figure skating champion, when the free skating final concludes on Thursday.
"Yesterday the ice felt a little weird for me, but today it was okay. I tried to train like in Toronto. Overall it was a great practise."
But she added: "I'm not sure she'll (Miki Ando) like it."
Japan's Miki Ando, 22, put her hand to her head after drawing the unenviable position of last on the ice in the Pacific Coliseum.
"I actually like skating last but not at the Olympic Games," said the 2007 world champion.
"I think I'm going to get nervous but I can't change anything. This nervous feeling I hope to turn it into a good thing."
Canada's Joannie Rochette, whose 55-year-old mother Therese died of a heart attack early Sunday, did not attend the draw in which she was placed 26th, and will take to the ice first in the final group.
The six-time Canadian champion and reigning world silver medallist practised on Sunday morning just hours after hearing the news of her mother's death.
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too young too much pressure, and it is olympic, not good
Ice-skater Kim cools gold rush frenzy
Kim Yu-Na of South Korea is silhouetted on the ice in December. Kim, the world champion, played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando.
Japan's former world champion Mao Asada smiles during a Japanese championship ahead of the Olympics. World champion Kim Yu-Na played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Asada and Miki Ando.
Kim Yu-Na of South Korea competes in Tokyo in December. The world champion played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando. AFP - World champion Kim Yu-Na played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando.
Kim, who has been defeated just twice in two years, both times to fellow 19-year-old Asada, insists that making her Olympic debut is exercising her thoughts more than a gold medal triumph.
"It's my first Olympics. I've been dreaming about this since I was a child. Whether I get gold or whatever, it's not about the medal. I will take away many good memories from Vancouver," said the South Korean star who was mobbed by 300 reporters when she arrived on Friday.
In a bid for privacy, Kim, who has been training in Toronto, has opted against staying in the athletes village, preferring a hotel. But she hasn't ruled out mixing more closely with her South Korean teammates.
"I'm staying at the hotel. I have a room in the village so we have the option of going there or the hotel," she said.
Kim had also practiced earlier in the day, hitting morning triple-triples as she took to the ice for the first time at the Pacific Coliseum, the venue for the women's event which gets underway with the short program on Tuesday.
Her coach Brian Orser said that Kim, ranked by Forbes as the top earning Winter Olympian alongside snowboarder Shaun White after making eight million dollars last year, could cope with the pressure of being the favourite.
"She's under enormous pressure, but everyone is under pressure just to be here," said former Olympic two-time men's medallist Orser.
"She knows what she needs to do in practise in order to achieve her goal.
"I want her to be comfortable in the space that is going to be our home for the next five to six days."
Kim ran through her James Bond short programme in front of hundreds of spectators attending the training session.
Asada and Ando missed their earlier planned 7am session, but teammate Akiko Suzuki braved the early start.
Former world champion Asada has hit the difficult triple axel jump in competition, but Canada's Orser believes that, like with the men's quadruple, it will not give her an advantage even if she tries it.
"People will be discussing that, but they're people who don't understand the system," he said.
"We saw that in the men's event, it's not just the quad but all the other elements where you can earn more points."
And he added: "The triple-triple combination is huge, it's difficult, but it's only one element. You can't put all your eggs in one basket."
Ice-skater Kim cools gold rush frenzy
Kim Yu-Na of South Korea is silhouetted on the ice in December. Kim, the world champion, played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando.
Japan's former world champion Mao Asada smiles during a Japanese championship ahead of the Olympics. World champion Kim Yu-Na played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Asada and Miki Ando.
Kim Yu-Na of South Korea competes in Tokyo in December. The world champion played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando. AFP - World champion Kim Yu-Na played down expectations that she would cruise to Olympic figure skating gold on Saturday as she prepared to take on Japan's twin-pronged assault team of Mao Asada and Miki Ando.
Kim, who has been defeated just twice in two years, both times to fellow 19-year-old Asada, insists that making her Olympic debut is exercising her thoughts more than a gold medal triumph.
"It's my first Olympics. I've been dreaming about this since I was a child. Whether I get gold or whatever, it's not about the medal. I will take away many good memories from Vancouver," said the South Korean star who was mobbed by 300 reporters when she arrived on Friday.
In a bid for privacy, Kim, who has been training in Toronto, has opted against staying in the athletes village, preferring a hotel. But she hasn't ruled out mixing more closely with her South Korean teammates.
"I'm staying at the hotel. I have a room in the village so we have the option of going there or the hotel," she said.
Kim had also practiced earlier in the day, hitting morning triple-triples as she took to the ice for the first time at the Pacific Coliseum, the venue for the women's event which gets underway with the short program on Tuesday.
Her coach Brian Orser said that Kim, ranked by Forbes as the top earning Winter Olympian alongside snowboarder Shaun White after making eight million dollars last year, could cope with the pressure of being the favourite.
"She's under enormous pressure, but everyone is under pressure just to be here," said former Olympic two-time men's medallist Orser.
"She knows what she needs to do in practise in order to achieve her goal.
"I want her to be comfortable in the space that is going to be our home for the next five to six days."
Kim ran through her James Bond short programme in front of hundreds of spectators attending the training session.
Asada and Ando missed their earlier planned 7am session, but teammate Akiko Suzuki braved the early start.
Former world champion Asada has hit the difficult triple axel jump in competition, but Canada's Orser believes that, like with the men's quadruple, it will not give her an advantage even if she tries it.
"People will be discussing that, but they're people who don't understand the system," he said.
"We saw that in the men's event, it's not just the quad but all the other elements where you can earn more points."
And he added: "The triple-triple combination is huge, it's difficult, but it's only one element. You can't put all your eggs in one basket."
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Ladies figure skater Kim Yu-Na of Korea skates during a practice session at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010.
Ladies figure skater Kim Yu-Na of Korea signs autographs after a practice session at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010.
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Ladies figure skater Mao Asada of Japan works on her routine during a training session at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010.
Ladies figure skater Mao Asada, right, of Japan skates past compatriot Akiko Suzuki left, during a training session at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010.
A Japadog hot dog, using Kobe beef sausage and named after Japan's figure skater Mao Asada, is held by a customer before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 11, 2010. The pair of Japadog stands are proving popular with Japanese tourists and press attending the Olympics. The hot dog is seen garnished with yuba, dried tofu skin, cut in the shape of maple leaves.
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prepare the house to come down when she appear
Rochette prepares to skate through heartbreak
The Globe and Mail
By Sean Gordon and Beverley Smith, The Globe and Mail Posted Monday, February 22, 2010 10:57 PM ET
Former Olympian Sylvie Fréchette was expecting the summons and immediately sought out its sender, Canadian figure skating champion Joannie Rochette.
Earlier in the day, Rochette had learned her mother, Thérèse, had died of a sudden heart attack shortly after arriving in Vancouver to watch her skate.
"Mostly, I listened, I wanted her to be able to express herself, if she wanted to cry or scream or swear or whatever ... I wanted her to feel on safe ground," Fréchette said.
That's because she, more than most, could identify with what the 24-year-old from Ile Dupas, Que., was feeling.
Less than a week before Fréchette was to leave for the 1992 Olympics, she lived through something so tragic that 17 years later, she has no memory of the 24 hours that followed.
Fréchette's boyfriend had taken his life in their apartment, and almost before it could register, she had a decision to make: fly to Spain or stay home.
"I was talking to my psychologist, and he quietly brought up Barcelona, and it was like a glimpse of light ... I had this crazy need to feel alive," the former synchronized swimmer said. "We're trained to perform, and the most efficient way to get rid of that lump [of emotion] is to train.
"I needed to be back in my environment, where I didn't have to think."
A handful of Canadian athletes, like Fréchette, who went on to win gold in Barcelona, former women's hockey star Danielle Goyette - who lost her father during the 1998 Nagano Games but still led her team to silver - and Own the Podium head Roger Jackson, a former medal-winning rower, have all gone through similar experiences.
Like Rochette, each felt a burning need to continue competing despite the pain.
"It will demand a huge emotional effort, but it might be two-fold, where with such a situation and a competition happening so quick you kind of just go on autopilot and you'll get through the competition," said Canadian team leader Michael Slipchuk, a former Olympic figure skater. "Maybe after the competition, when it's all finished, might be a time where it will be a little tougher and the realization will come in of what's actually happened."
Rochette took to the ice of the Pacific Coliseum shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday, dressed in black from head to toe, her father and other family members and friends watching from the stands.
She nailed her first practice jump in the corner of the ice nearest her family, who applauded her every landing; Rochette practised her short routine confidently and coolly, much as she did on Sunday only hours after learning of her mother's passing.
Rochette had been rooming in the athletes village with ice dancer Tessa Virtue, but has now been moved to a room where she could be alone.
"It's devastating, our hearts go out to Joannie and her family, it's so tough. Luckily she has a great support team around her, what can you say, it's just so sad," Virtue said on Sunday night.
According to Canadian team officials, she has been consulting with her sports psychologist, Wayne Halliwell, and coach Manon Perron, who is also a close friend of Rochette's family.
While Rochette and her relatives have asked for privacy, others in her circle went public with their devastation. Former boyfriend François-Louis Tremblay - the two split last fall but remain friends - couldn't contain his tears in addressing Rochette's loss.
"It isn't really my place ... [but] I hope Joannie will be strong," the short-track speed skating star said in a choked voice. "What I really want to say is that I hope she'll be able to spend time with her family and the people who are close to her, that's the most important thing, not a competition."
High-performance athletes often pride themselves on their mental toughness and their ability to block out externalities, an ethic summed up by former Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser.
"I would have skated, of course ... I've never been there. And I can't imagine what it would be like. But she's got good people around her," said Orser, who coaches South Korean superstar Kim Yu-Na, the gold-medal favourite in the women's individual event.
Different people experience bereavement in different ways, but it's no surprise to the people who know Rochette best that she has decided the show must go on.
"She's a tough skater, a tough lady, this is how she's achieved what she has in skating, it's how you handle these situations and move forward that make you stronger ... all along I felt she would continue and compete," Slipchuk said. "Where she probably feels the best in this situation is on the ice."
The sympathy for Rochette's situation is keenly felt in the close-knit figure skating community, the Canadian delegation has received messages of condolence from all the countries represented in the Olympic competition and from organizations like Hockey Canada.
"I just cannot imagine how she'll get herself in the frame of mind other than maybe the shock of it all is ... subconsciously, she may just get through this not realizing truly what has happened," said American coach Robin Wagner, who works with Georgian skater Elene Gedevanishvili. "How she's come to that decision and what she's feeling, I don't know. Somewhere in her heart she'll reach down."
Fréchette, who is working as an athletic services officer for Canadian athletes at the Olympic Village, said she has been "joined at the hip" with Rochette over the past couple of days and senses she is ready to compete.
"I guess that because I've been through something similar, but not the same, I can help her establish some parameters on how she's feeling," she said. "She wants to do this ... I'll be watching her [today]. I think everyone will."
Rochette prepares to skate through heartbreak
The Globe and Mail
By Sean Gordon and Beverley Smith, The Globe and Mail Posted Monday, February 22, 2010 10:57 PM ET
Former Olympian Sylvie Fréchette was expecting the summons and immediately sought out its sender, Canadian figure skating champion Joannie Rochette.
Earlier in the day, Rochette had learned her mother, Thérèse, had died of a sudden heart attack shortly after arriving in Vancouver to watch her skate.
"Mostly, I listened, I wanted her to be able to express herself, if she wanted to cry or scream or swear or whatever ... I wanted her to feel on safe ground," Fréchette said.
That's because she, more than most, could identify with what the 24-year-old from Ile Dupas, Que., was feeling.
Less than a week before Fréchette was to leave for the 1992 Olympics, she lived through something so tragic that 17 years later, she has no memory of the 24 hours that followed.
Fréchette's boyfriend had taken his life in their apartment, and almost before it could register, she had a decision to make: fly to Spain or stay home.
"I was talking to my psychologist, and he quietly brought up Barcelona, and it was like a glimpse of light ... I had this crazy need to feel alive," the former synchronized swimmer said. "We're trained to perform, and the most efficient way to get rid of that lump [of emotion] is to train.
"I needed to be back in my environment, where I didn't have to think."
A handful of Canadian athletes, like Fréchette, who went on to win gold in Barcelona, former women's hockey star Danielle Goyette - who lost her father during the 1998 Nagano Games but still led her team to silver - and Own the Podium head Roger Jackson, a former medal-winning rower, have all gone through similar experiences.
Like Rochette, each felt a burning need to continue competing despite the pain.
"It will demand a huge emotional effort, but it might be two-fold, where with such a situation and a competition happening so quick you kind of just go on autopilot and you'll get through the competition," said Canadian team leader Michael Slipchuk, a former Olympic figure skater. "Maybe after the competition, when it's all finished, might be a time where it will be a little tougher and the realization will come in of what's actually happened."
Rochette took to the ice of the Pacific Coliseum shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday, dressed in black from head to toe, her father and other family members and friends watching from the stands.
She nailed her first practice jump in the corner of the ice nearest her family, who applauded her every landing; Rochette practised her short routine confidently and coolly, much as she did on Sunday only hours after learning of her mother's passing.
Rochette had been rooming in the athletes village with ice dancer Tessa Virtue, but has now been moved to a room where she could be alone.
"It's devastating, our hearts go out to Joannie and her family, it's so tough. Luckily she has a great support team around her, what can you say, it's just so sad," Virtue said on Sunday night.
According to Canadian team officials, she has been consulting with her sports psychologist, Wayne Halliwell, and coach Manon Perron, who is also a close friend of Rochette's family.
While Rochette and her relatives have asked for privacy, others in her circle went public with their devastation. Former boyfriend François-Louis Tremblay - the two split last fall but remain friends - couldn't contain his tears in addressing Rochette's loss.
"It isn't really my place ... [but] I hope Joannie will be strong," the short-track speed skating star said in a choked voice. "What I really want to say is that I hope she'll be able to spend time with her family and the people who are close to her, that's the most important thing, not a competition."
High-performance athletes often pride themselves on their mental toughness and their ability to block out externalities, an ethic summed up by former Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser.
"I would have skated, of course ... I've never been there. And I can't imagine what it would be like. But she's got good people around her," said Orser, who coaches South Korean superstar Kim Yu-Na, the gold-medal favourite in the women's individual event.
Different people experience bereavement in different ways, but it's no surprise to the people who know Rochette best that she has decided the show must go on.
"She's a tough skater, a tough lady, this is how she's achieved what she has in skating, it's how you handle these situations and move forward that make you stronger ... all along I felt she would continue and compete," Slipchuk said. "Where she probably feels the best in this situation is on the ice."
The sympathy for Rochette's situation is keenly felt in the close-knit figure skating community, the Canadian delegation has received messages of condolence from all the countries represented in the Olympic competition and from organizations like Hockey Canada.
"I just cannot imagine how she'll get herself in the frame of mind other than maybe the shock of it all is ... subconsciously, she may just get through this not realizing truly what has happened," said American coach Robin Wagner, who works with Georgian skater Elene Gedevanishvili. "How she's come to that decision and what she's feeling, I don't know. Somewhere in her heart she'll reach down."
Fréchette, who is working as an athletic services officer for Canadian athletes at the Olympic Village, said she has been "joined at the hip" with Rochette over the past couple of days and senses she is ready to compete.
"I guess that because I've been through something similar, but not the same, I can help her establish some parameters on how she's feeling," she said. "She wants to do this ... I'll be watching her [today]. I think everyone will."
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Feb 22 (Reuters) -
Figure skating ice dance result at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Monday.
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 22: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada celebrate after receiving their scores for the free dance portion of the Ice Dance competition on day 11 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on February 22, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
Figure skating ice dance result at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Monday.
1. T.Virtue/S.Moir (Canada) 221.57
2. M.Davis/C.White (U.S.) 215.74
3. O.Domnina/M.Shabalin (Russia) 207.64
4. T.Belbin/B.Agosto (U.S.) 203.07
5. F.Faiella/M.Scali (Italy) 199.17
6. I.Delobel/O.Schoenfelder (France) 193.73
7. N.Pechalat/F.Bourzat (France) 190.49
8. S.Kerr/J.Kerr (Britain) 186.01
9.J.Khokhlova/S.Novitski (Russia) 185.86
10. A.Zaretski/R.Zaretski (Israel) 180.26
11. E.Samuelson/E.Bates (U.S.) 174.30
12. A.Cappellini/L.Lanotte (Italy) 167.32
13. N.Hoffmann/M.Zavozin (Hungary) 167.23
14.V.Crone/P.Poirier (Canada) 164.60
15. E.Bobrova/D.Soloviev (Russia) 163.35
16. A.Zadorozhniuk/S.Verbillo (Ukraine) 163.15
17. C.Reed/C.Reed (Japan) 159.60
18. C.Beier/W.Beier (Germany) 149.64
19. Huan X T/Zheng X (China) 145.52
20. P.Coomes/N.Buckland (Britain) 143.61
21. K.Hajkova/D.Vincour (Czech Republic) 133.81
22. A.Reed/O.Japaridze (Georgia) 132.32
23. I.Shtork/T.Rand (Estonia) 115.18
2. M.Davis/C.White (U.S.) 215.74
3. O.Domnina/M.Shabalin (Russia) 207.64
4. T.Belbin/B.Agosto (U.S.) 203.07
5. F.Faiella/M.Scali (Italy) 199.17
6. I.Delobel/O.Schoenfelder (France) 193.73
7. N.Pechalat/F.Bourzat (France) 190.49
8. S.Kerr/J.Kerr (Britain) 186.01
9.J.Khokhlova/S.Novitski (Russia) 185.86
10. A.Zaretski/R.Zaretski (Israel) 180.26
11. E.Samuelson/E.Bates (U.S.) 174.30
12. A.Cappellini/L.Lanotte (Italy) 167.32
13. N.Hoffmann/M.Zavozin (Hungary) 167.23
14.V.Crone/P.Poirier (Canada) 164.60
15. E.Bobrova/D.Soloviev (Russia) 163.35
16. A.Zadorozhniuk/S.Verbillo (Ukraine) 163.15
17. C.Reed/C.Reed (Japan) 159.60
18. C.Beier/W.Beier (Germany) 149.64
19. Huan X T/Zheng X (China) 145.52
20. P.Coomes/N.Buckland (Britain) 143.61
21. K.Hajkova/D.Vincour (Czech Republic) 133.81
22. A.Reed/O.Japaridze (Georgia) 132.32
23. I.Shtork/T.Rand (Estonia) 115.18
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 22: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada celebrate after receiving their scores for the free dance portion of the Ice Dance competition on day 11 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on February 22, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.
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