JOANNIE ROCHETTE – AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT

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Joannie Rochette, a 24-year-old from Quebec, was a 2009 World Silver medalist and a five-time Canadian champion who came to the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver as a top contender in women’s figure skating.

Only two days prior to the start of her event, she learned her mother had died of a heart attack. She had just arrived in Vancouver to watch Joannie skate.

In spite of the heavy burden this placed on her emotions and her mind, she kept on, eventually winning the Bronze medal.

To honor her, she was selected as Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

I was inspired and motivated by her mental and emotional toughness and her clear display of courage.

In an interview after, she said, “The thing that I’m the most proud of is that I could step on that ice and be tough, because that’s what my mom taught me all of her life.”

It was this ability to stay focused and keep her mind on her task, when so many other thoughts were there to distract her, that impressed me the most.

As we set about to achieve our goals and pursue our dreams, we are often pulled and distracted. The ability to focus, when the pressure is on and your mind wants to be elsewhere, is one of the truly inspirational highlights of a hero.

Hats off to you, Joannie, and thank you for your example.

-Rusty

See parts of her inspiring performance here.

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