A lesson in courage

“From Canada ...” the Pacific Coliseum crowd heard. And everyone cheered before the announcer could even say “Joannie ... Ro-chette.”

At ice level, before she had taken her first steps of the seven-minute practice, she looked like she was going to cry. She looked like she wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do, if maybe this was too soon.

She had that look of uncertainty and then she skated onto the ice for warmup, all the while being saluted by the pro-Canadian crowd at the Olympic Games.

There are moments to remember and cherish in every Olympics — moments that take your breath away, moments that make you admire what is about these Olympians, moments that seem to stop time — and this was certainly one of them.

Rochette cried. Fans cried. We cried along with her. And an arena and a country cheered and applauded and wept and watched in amazement. You can prepare all your life for the Olympic Games, but there is no way to prepare for losing your mother on a shocking Sunday and skating two days later.

The above words were written by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun. He said it better than i could.

 

 

Joannie Rochette, 24, 2010 Canadian Olympic bronze medal winner in ladies figure skating, long program. The Quebec'er will go down in Olympic history as a brave young woman whose life and work is an inspiration to all young athletes.