joannie rochette mother cause of death
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Two days before the Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette was to compete here on home soil and contend for an Olympic medal, her Olympics took a tragic turn. Her mother, Therese, died on Sunday in a hospital here, Skate Canada president Benoit Lavoie said. She was 55. The cause of death has not been announced.
The skater’s father, Normand Rochette, broke the news to his daughter early Sunday morning. While other skaters practiced for the competition at the Pacific Coliseum, the two spent the morning in the athletes’ village, officials said.
Therese Rochette and her husband, Normand, had flown here on Saturday from Montreal to see their daughter compete. She was considered Canada’s best chance for a women’s figure skating medal since Elizabeth Manley won the silver medal at the 1988 Calgary Games.
Rochette, the silver medalist at the 2009 world championships, is still expected to compete on Tuesday in the short program. The long program is set for Thursday.
Officials said Rochette would not speak to reporters until the competition was over.