Canadian Figure Skater wins Bronze 4 days after mother's death
22 replies, posted
[quote=CTVOympics.ca]Joannie Rochette coupled Tuesday's heart-wrenching short program with a gutsy free skate, Thursday. And four days after her mother unexpectedly died following a heart attack, Rochette was awarded the Olympic bronze medal for her courageous efforts and near-flawless skating.
Rochette, 24 of Ile-Dupas, Que., wasn't quite perfect in her free skate - stepping out of a triple Lutz and skipping the second half of a double Axel-double Axel combination - but she didn't have to be. She received 131.28 points for her free skate to Samson and Delilah for a 202.64-point overall score.
The bronze medal that resulted was Canada's first medal since Elizabeth Manley shocked the world with her 1988 silver in Calgary.
Earlier in the evening, Kim Yu-Na of South Korea flew through her free skate in a bid to take the top of the podium. Kim, 19, threw down the gauntlet wtih towering double Axels and triple Lutzes on her way to her second record-setting score this week.
Kim, who trains under former Canadian figure skater Brian Orser in Toronto, received 150.06 points for her free skate to Gershwin's Concerto in F. Combined with the 78.50 points the South Korean dynamo scored for her James Bond-themed short program on Tuesday, Kim was awarded a score of 228.56 to storm into first place.
Not only did Kim - also the reigning world champion - earn add Olympic gold to her ever-expanding collection of medals on Thursday, but Orser - best-known for finishing second in the 1988 Olympics' "Battle of the Brians" with American skater Brian Boitano - finally received his gold medal.
Mao Asada of Japan skated right on the heels of her long-time teenage rival, gunning out of the gate to knock Kim of her perch with her trademark triple Axel and triple-double combination jumps. But at the midpoint of her program, Asada unraveled. She stumbled on a transition and then singled her final triple toeloop.
Asada's score of 131.72 was a season's best, but coupled with her short program score, the 205.50 total was not enough to unseat Kim from the leader's position.
Finishing behind the medallists was Mirai Nagasu of the United States. At just 16 years old, Nagasu came from a sixth-place finish in the short program to finish fourth in her first Olympic competition. Nagasu skated an inspiring program to Carmen to jump two spots in the standings.
Despite the leap into fourth, however, Nagasu never posed a threat to the medallists. The young American finished more than eight points behind Rochette - well off the podium.
Skating earlier Thursday, Cynthia Phaneuf didn't perform the flawless program she was hoping for in her first Olympic competition. The skater from Contrecoeur, Que., fell on her triple Lutz and singled her planned double Axel. But she scored 99.46 points forh er efforts for a 156.62-point total. She finished the competition in 12th place.[/quote]
[url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/figure-skating/news/newsid=52269.html#rochette+holds+nothing+back+come+bronze]Source[/url]
I have no stupid pun for this story, I just feel great for her. It's a great tribute to her mother.
This reminds me of that one skier who got knocked out cold after an accident on the course, and so while she's knocked out they are effectively destroying the course trying to fix the area she fell on. When they finally released her onto the ruined course, she got 16th, instead of the 4th she was set to get. It's pretty sad.
I think it was more impressive when that "Petra Gjajhgknbmk" skier fell down a frigin cliff, broke a bunch of ribs, and then went on to get bronze.
Still, this one is kind of poetic.
I don't see why she is a better person because her mother died.
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;20428176]I don't see why she is a better person because her mother died.[/QUOTE]
Where was that said? I'm simply posting it because, well, it's a nice story. Besides, she did skate quite well.
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;20428176]I don't see why she is a better person because her mother died.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I don't really know why this is so amazing.
that was quite the [B]Skate[/B] :smug:
If she really loved her mom she would have won the gold.
:golfclap:
What a slick job.
Man, you guys are cold as [I][B]ice[/B][/I].
Why are you guys joking on her?
[QUOTE=Fables;20428230]Yeah, I don't really know why this is so amazing.[/QUOTE]
It's amazing because she got bronze in an international skating competition? I guess that's not impressive to you at all.
[QUOTE=BANNED USER;20428176]I don't see why she is a better person because her mother died.[/QUOTE]
Because it's hard enough to do this without grief on your mind
[QUOTE=toastedspyro;20428475]It's amazing because she got bronze in an international skating competition? I guess that's not impressive to you at all.[/QUOTE]
Third place isn't impressive to many people.
[QUOTE=Fables;20428530]Third place isn't impressive to many people.[/QUOTE]
Third place in the whole world? How high are you standards?
good for her for continuing on.
i bet she's really happy.
The fourth place girl actually went to our school. She dropped out cuz of scheduling issues.
[QUOTE=Fables;20428530]Third place isn't impressive to many people.[/QUOTE]
can you top what she accomplished?
[QUOTE=toastedspyro;20428681]Third place in the whole world? How high are you standards?[/QUOTE]
My question is why is she getting more praise than the person who won the gold?
Is it just simply due to the fact that her mother died?
[QUOTE=Fables;20428805]My question is why is she getting more praise than the person who won the gold?
Is it just simply due to the fact that her mother died?[/QUOTE]
Yes. It's hard enough to do what she did, let alone do it 4 days after her mothers death.
