VANCOUVER, B.C. - With no medals on the line, and no Olympic pressure on her shoulders, Joannie Rochette skated purely for her mom.
The 24-year-old from Ile-Dupas, Que., performed to Celine Dion's"Vole" as a tribute to her mother Therese in the Olympic exhibitiongala Saturday night, and when the soft strains of the sad song ended,she looked up with a wide smile.
"She loved that program, she loved that song, she loved Celine Dion," Rochette said.
Thegutsy Rochette touched hearts when she captured a bronze medal lessthan a week after the death of her mom, marking Canada's first Olympicwomen's figure skating medal since Elizabeth Manley won silver in 1988.
Stunning in a backless purple velour dress she borrowed from teammate Jessica Dubethat better suited the music, Rochette skated an old exhibition programto Dion for the gala, figure skating's traditional finale that bringstogether the top-five finishers in each event under the spotlights.
A day earlier, Rochette had received a phone call and a huge bouquetof flowers from Dion, part of a huge outpouring of support for theCanadian skater.
"It was so cool to get a call from Celine, I told her I would skateto her song," Rochette said. "It was really nice, she also told me whenher father passed away, she went out and sang for all these peoplebecause that's what he would have wanted, and I feel exactly the sameway. I can't believe I talked to her still."
Dion wrote "Vole" - "Fly" in English - in memory of her niece who died of cystic fibrosis in 1993.
Rochette practised the program Saturday morning, but not before watching video of herself on YouTube to recall the steps.
"I didn't remember everything, but I think my mom will forgive me if I forget a few steps," she said.
Rochette, who was presented with the Terry Fox Award earlierSaturday that recognizes courage amidst adversity, said she's beenoverwhelmed by the emails, cards and phone calls she's received thisweek, including a message from one of her favourite comedians,Louis-Jose Houde.
Following Tuesday's heartwrenching short program that left barely adry eye in the Pacific Coliseum, Canadian-born actor Jim Carrey postedon Twitter: "Joannie Rochette! just saw your skate. U made your motherproud! My heart goes out to you and your dad. Much love 2U goingforward."
"It's so good to get support from so many people," Rochette said. "Igot a really nice message from an eight-year-old girl that stilltouches me."
Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moirbrought the crowd to its feet with their popular program they've skatedsince they were kids to C&C Music Factory's "Everybody Dance Now" -she dressed as a ballerina, he as a hockey player in Team Canada jersey and black tuque.
Virtue, from London, Ont., and Moir, from Ilderton, Ont., captured Canada's first Olympic ice dance gold medal.
Patrick Chan of Toronto, who finished fifth in his Olympic debut, skated to a Michael Bolton version of "Yesterday" by The Beatles.
On an entertaining night that celebrated the world's top skating stars, gold medallist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea,the 19-year-old who's coached by Canada's Brian Orser, skated astunning performance to Jules Messenet's "Meditation from Thais."
Men's champion Evan Lysacek of the U.S. skated to George Gershwin's "Rhapsody and Blue," and Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo,the Chinese pairs team that finally captured gold in their fourthOlympics, skated their Games finale performance to Andrea Bocelli's "IoCi Saro."
Share