Joannie Rochette's Mother Dies Suddenly
Tragedy has struck reigning World silver medalist Joannie Rochette. Two days before the six-time Canadian is scheduled to compete at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, her mother died suddenly.
Thérèse Rochette died this morning in a Vancouver hospital, Skate Canada has announced. She was 55. The cause of death has not been announced officially; a source close to the family said she died of a heart attack.
Rochette’s parents, Normand and Thérèse, had arrived in Vancouver from their home in Montreal on Saturday to cheer on their daughter. What should have been a joyous time has instead turned unimaginably sad.
Thérèse Rochette was transported to Vancouver General Hospital early Sunday morning. Joannie Rochette was in the athletes’ village when her father and her coach, Manon Perron, informed her of her mother’s sudden death. They broke the news to her at 6 a.m.
"Fairly shortly after she was informed, she decided she would carry on,” William Thompson Skate Canada’s CEO told the Montreal Gazette. “We will support whatever decision she makes. Honestly, I think she’ll skate. She seemed very determined to compete."
The newspaper report said Skate Canada and Canadian Olympic Committee are giving the Canadian skater as much support as she needs. If she chooses to say in the village, they will arrange for her to have her own room, if that is what she wants (she is sharing a room with Tessa Virtue).
Scottie Bibb, director of media & public relations for U.S. Figure Skating, released a statement from the organziation: "U.S. Figure Skating was greatly saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Thérèse Rochette, mother of six-time Canadian figure skating champion Joannie Rochette. Our most sincere condolences go out to Joannie and her family in this time of loss."
To read the Gazette story, click HERE.