Olympic Waterworks

I think I probably prefer the summer Olympics to the winter ones - it seems there are way more events and opportunities to root for a team, but nightly I get sucked into watching the prime time coverage in Vancouver until 10:30pm anyway. I do enjoy watching the skiing and snowboarding, especially the new event ski cross. Plus Vancouver and Whistler look beautiful!

I know they try really hard to create "stories" that grab you - obviously who couldn't be happy for the Chinese pair who finally won gold in figure skating pairs? And Lindsey Vonn is adorable so her gold was also exciting. Chad Hedrick, who won bronze in a speed skating event, is from my hometown and his family runs Champions Roller World, a staple in anyone's childhood from that area. But last night in women's figure skating, a story really got me.

Joannie Rochette is a Canadian figure skater whose mother passed away suddenly due to a massive heart attack on Sunday right after she arrived in Vancouver for the Olympics. I hadn't heard this story until last night, but Joannie decided to go ahead and compete in the short program. Bob Costas did a little blurb on her beforehand, speaking with a past Olympian about losing his sister the day he competed and his thought process in deciding to compete (he did not do well, but he said he wouldn't take it back for anything). You could tell before Joannie went on she seemed very shaky and emotional, but her program was wonderful! I was so excited when she scored in 3rd place, just behind the favorites from South Korea and Japan. She lost it with her coaches when she walked off the ice, but I was so proud of her for competing so well! If that doesn't deserve an Olympic medal, I don't know what does.

Of course as Jeremy was watching this in our bedroom he ran into the living room to see if I had started crying. I hadn't...until he asked me! Just the thought of what she's going through, which I obviously can't even fathom, to not only lose your mother but at such a young age as a huge shock and in a strange place. And then 2 days later to have to make a decision whether to grieve in private or to do so publicly and compete in something she's been training for her entire life. And to have your mother miss what is probably up to this point the biggest night of your life. Of course I was crying!

There's a good article from NBC here. After reading it this morning, this quote started the waterworks again: "Rochette put her hand to her mouth to stifle her cries while taking her bows, her eyes wet. After waving to the fans in each corner of the Pacific Coliseum, she headed to the end boards where coach Manon Perron waited. They hugged tightly as Rochette buried her head in Perron's shoulder and wept." Geeeeeez.

Joannie and the other women compete again in the free skate on Thursday night, if you want to watch and cheer on our Canadian neighbor!