Joannie Rochette: Medal-Winning Courage

February 26, 2010 Olympics
Joannie Rochette

As one of the heart-rending stories in this year's Winter Olympics, Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, 24, glided to a bronze medal in Women's Figure Skating last night, just days after the sudden heart-attack death of her mother, Therese.

She confessed to the "Today" show's Meredith Vieira, "I went to the hospital and saw my mother dead and that's when I decided to keep skating."

See photos of the 2010 Olympic Medalists.

Rochette added, "I did feel like [my mother] was there helping me out because I had not much energy, much sleep in me... some of the jumps I'm not sure how I could land them, and I'm sure that she was there with me."

Filed Under: Olympics, Joanie Rochette
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