Canada’s Joannie Rochette To Keep Skating Depsite Mother’s Sudden Death

Joannie Rochette has become the true face of courage at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Just seven hours after learning her mother had died unexpectedly from a heart attack, the figure skater hit the ice for her scheduled practice on Sunday inside the Pacific Coliseum.

And while no one would question if the tragedy brought Joannie’s Olympic quest to an end, the reigning silver medalist — and gold medal contender this year – will skate as planned for her home country Canada in the women’s short program on Tuesday.

Upon arriving to practice on Sunday, Joannie – a 24-year-old Montreal native – took a deep breath and gave a wave to her grief-stricken father, who was the only spectator allowed inside the practice session.

Based on footage from her practice, Joannie seemed to settle into the comfort of her routine, showing no lapses in concentration during her on-ice run-through.

Upon completion, Joannie was applauded by those in attendance for her bravery and as she left the ice, the skater wiped away a tear. In a sad irony, she left the ice to the words “I’m gonna live forever” from the “Fame” theme song.

“Our hearts go out to Joannie,” the skater’s roommate and fellow Canadian Olympian, Tessa Virtue, told reporters.

Joannie’s mother, Therese, and her father Normand arrived in Vancouver on Saturday in anticipation of their daughter taking the ice. Later that night, Normand discovered his wife passed out and when he was unable to revive her, she was transported to the hospital.

Early Sunday morning, Therese Rochette was pronounced dead. She was 55.

Joannie – an only child – was told of the tragedy around 6 AM on Sunday by her father and longtime coach Manon Perron.

U.S. skating legend Scott Hamilton told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush that if Joannie can channel the memory of her late mother into her performance, it could be a true Olympic moment.

“If she can take her mother with her to the ice and just use all of that relationship and strength that she got from her all her years, this could be probably one of the more memorable Olympic performances of all time,” Scott told Billy.