Joannie Rochette

Joannie Rochette
File:Joannie Rochette 2009 Worlds.jpg Rochette at the 2009 Worlds.
Personal information
Full name	Joannie Rochette
Country represented	Canada
Born	(1986-01-13) January 13, 1986 Montreal, Quebec
Home town	Île Dupas, Quebec
Height	1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Coach	Manon Perron Nathalie Martin
Former coach	Josée Normand Sébastien Britten Nathalie Riquier
Choreographer	Shae-Lynn Bourne Lori Nichol
Former choreographer	David Wilson Sébastien Britten
Skating club	CPA Berthierville
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	202.64 2010 Winter Olympics
Short program	71.36 2010 Winter Olympics
Free skate	131.28 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record Representing Canada Ladies' Figure skating Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver Singles World Championships 2009 Los Angeles Singles Four Continents Championships 2009 Vancouver Singles 2008 Goyang Singles 2007 Colorado Spri.. Singles Grand Prix Final 2004–05 Beijing Singles World Team Trophy 2009 Tokyo Team

Joannie Rochette (born January 13, 1986) is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2009 World silver medalist, the 2008 and 2009 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2004 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and a six-time (2005–10) Canadian national champion.

Personal life

Rochette was born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in Île Dupas.

On February 21, 2010, two days before the beginning of ladies' figure skating competition at the winter Olympics in Vancouver, her mother, Thérèse Rochette, died of a heart attack at age 55 at Vancouver General Hospital after arriving to watch her compete; Rochette chose to remain in the competition and skate in her mother's honour. At her mother's funeral, she placed her Olympic bronze medal on the casket for some time.

Rochette is currently a spokesperson for the "iheartmom" campaign at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, which deals with raising awareness for heart disease in women. She has also worked with World Vision.

Career

Early career

Joannie began skating when she was just two years old after her mother took her to the rink.

In the 1999–2000 season, Rochette won the 2000 Canadian Championships on the novice level. The following season Rochette debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix. She placed 4th at the 2000–2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix event in France and 4th at the event in Florida. She qualified for the 2001 Canadian Championships by winning both her qualifying events. At the Canadian Championships, she won her second consecutive national title, this time on the Junior level. She was then sent to the 2001 World Junior Championships, where she placed 8th.

In the 2001–2002 season, Rochette competed on the 2001–2002 ISU Junior Grand Prix, winning the silver medal at the event in Italy. She won the bronze medal at the 2002 Canadian Championships on the senior level and qualified for the teams to the 2002 Four Continents and the 2002 Junior Worlds. At Four Continents, her second senior international event, Rochette placed 8th. She went on to place 4th at the World Junior Championships.

Senior career

2002–2003 season

In the 2002–2003 season, Rochette won the silver medal at the 2003 Canadian Championships. She placed 8th at the 2003 Four Continents and 17th at the 2003 World Championships.

2003–2004 season

In the 2003–2004 season, Rochette debuted on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. She placed 10th at the 2003 Skate Canada and 4th at the 2003 Cup of Russia. She competed at the 2003 Bofrost Cup on Ice and won the event. At the 2004 Canadian Championships, Rochette won her second consecutive silver medal. She placed 4th at the 2004 Four Continents and moved up to 8th at the World Championships.

2004–2005 season

In the 2004–2005 season, Rochette won the bronze medal at the 2004 Cup of China and then won the 2004 Trophée Eric Bompard. She qualified for the 2004–2005 Grand Prix Final, where she won the bronze medal. She won the 2005 Canadian Championships, her first Canadian senior title, which made her the first Canadian female skater to have won the Canadian Championships at all three levels (Novice, Junior, and Senior). She placed 11th at the 2005 World Championships. Her placement, combined with that of Cynthia Phaneuf, earned Canada two entries to the 2006 Winter Olympics.

2005–2006 season

In the 2005–2006 Olympic season, Rochette won the silver medal at the 2005 Skate Canada and placed 4th at the 2005 Trophée Eric Bompard. She won her second consecutive national title at the 2006 Canadian Championships. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Rochette placed 5th. At the 2006 World Championships, Rochette led following the qualifying round, then placed 7th in the short program and 8th in the free skate to place 7th overall. She had fallen twice during her jumps which led to a disappointing result.

2006–2007 season

In the 2006–2007 season, Rochette won the 2006 Skate Canada and placed 4th at the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard, and missed out on qualifying for the Grand Prix Final on a tie-break. At the 2007 Canadian Championships, Rochette won her third consecutive national title. She won the bronze medal at the 2007 Four Continents and placed 10th at the 2007 World Championships.

2007–2008 season

In the 2007–2008 season, Rochette won the bronze medals at the 2007 Skate Canada and the 2007 Cup of Russia. At the 2008 Canadian Championships, she won her fourth consecutive national title. She won the silver medal at the 2008 Four Continents and placed 5th at the 2008 World Championships.

2008–2009 season

In the 2008–2009 season, Rochette won the 2008 Skate Canada. She then won the 2008 Trophée Eric Bompard, beating reigning World Champion Mao Asada, and credited her work with a psychologist for her improved performances. She qualified for the 2008–2009 Grand Prix Final, where she placed 4th. She won her fifth consecutive national title at the 2009 Canadian Championships. At the 2009 Four Continents Championships, she won the silver medal, again beating Asada. At the 2009 World Championships, Rochette won the silver medal, becoming the first Canadian woman since Elizabeth Manley to medal at the World Championships.

2009–2010 season

For the 2009–2010 Grand Prix season, Rochette was assigned to the 2009 Cup of China, and the 2009 Skate Canada International. She started off the season with at the Cup of China, where she placed 7th in the short program, with 52.12 points, 10.08 points behind overnight leader Mirai Nagasu. During the free skate she rebounded, placing 2nd with 111.06 points behind Akiko Suzuki, who placed 1st in that segment. Rochette won the bronze medal with 163.18 points, behind gold medalist Suzuki and silver medalist Kiira Korpi.

At the 2009 Skate Canada, she scored a new personal best in the short program, 70.00 points, placing her first. During the free skate, she placed first again, with 112.90 points. She won the gold medal ahead of silver medalist Alissa Czisny and bronze medalist Laura Lepistö.

Rochette qualified her for the 2009–2010 Grand Prix Final. She placed 4th in the short program with 60.94 points, 5.2 points behind overnight leader, Miki Ando. Rochette placed 5th in the free skate, earning only 95.77 points. She placed 5th overall with 156.71 points, 32.15 points behind gold medalist Kim Yuna.

2010 Winter Olympics

See also: Figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Rochette on the podium at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Rochette was nominated to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics after winning her 6th straight Canadian National title.

While practicing for the short programme, Rochette received tragic news: her mother had died shortly after arriving in Vancouver. Upon hearing the news, NBC speed-skating commentator Dan Jansen sent an e-mail to Rochette and shared his experiences of his sister's death during the Calgary Olympics (Canada's last Olympics before Vancouver).

Rochette chose to continue competing in her mother's honour. She recorded a new personal best in the short program, scoring 71.36 points, the third highest score of the night. Two days later, she held on to her third place position after the long program and won the bronze medal. She became the fifth Canadian to win a medal in ladies' figure skating at the Olympics.

Rochette's performance at the 2010 Olympics figure skating gala on February 27 featured the French version of Celine Dion's song "Fly" as a tribute to her mother (a long-time fan of Dion), ending with her face raised to the heavens.

Because of her inspiring determination in the face of these circumstances, along with Petra Majdič, she received the inaugural Terry Fox Award for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Fellow Canadian Olympian Jon Montgomery described Rochette as having shown "so much heart and determination at the 2010 Games (...) What she displayed is honestly what the Olympics are all about." Rochette was chosen as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony. In December 2010, she was voted the Female Athlete of the Year by The Canadian Press.

Rochette did not compete at the 2010 World Championships and later announced that she would not take part in the 2010–11 Grand Prix series. In an October 2012 interview, Rochette said she was weighing a return to competition. She confirmed in September 2013 that she would not compete for a spot to the 2014 Olympics but would travel to Sochi with the CBC for an undetermined role mainly in French.

Programs

Post-2010

Season	Free skating Pro-am events	Exhibition
2015–2016		O Holy Night
2014–2015	La Vie en rose covered by Ute Lemper choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil	La Vie en rose covered by Ute Lemper choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil Addicted to You by Avicii choreo. by David Wilson
2013–2014	Notre Dame de Paris by Luc Plamondon	Notre Dame de Paris by Luc Plamondon Shot Me Down by David Guetta Santa Baby by Joan Javits, Philip Springer
2012–2013	For Me, Formidable by France d'Amour	Is It a Crime by Sade That Man by Caro Emerald What About Me performed by Measha Brueggergosman
2011–2012	The Firebird by Igor Stravinski choreo. by Sébastien Britten	Indestructible by Robyn For Me, Formidable by France d'Amour The Perfect Gift by The Canadian Tenors
2010–2011	Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns choreo. by Lori Nichol	True Colors performed by Cyndi Lauper Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam

Pre-2010

File:Rochette 2010 Olympics SP.jpg

Rochette during her short program La Cumparsita at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2009–2010	La Cumparsita by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne	Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns choreo. by Lori Nichol	Objection (Tango) by Shakira Vole by Celine Dion Summertime by George Gershwin performed by Renee Olstead My Immortal by Evanescence
2008–2009	Summertime by George Gershwin choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne	Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo choreo. by Lori Nichol	Die Another Day by Madonna Believe by Suzie McNeil Objection (Tango) by Shakira
2007–2008	Piano Concerto No. 1 by Peter Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto by Robert Schumann choreo. by Sandra Bezic	N'as-tu pas Honte Un Grand Homme est Mort Aimer (from Don Juan) by Félix Gray choreo. by David Wilson	Die Another Day by Madonna Finally by Fergie Summertime by George Gershwin performed by Renee Olstead
2006–2007	Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix choreo. by Sandra Bezic	N'as-tu pas Honte Un Grand Homme est Mort Aimer (from Don Juan) by Félix Gray choreo. by David Wilson	Summertime by George Gershwin performed by Renee Olstead Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar Vole by Celine Dion
2005–2006	Like a Prayer (instrumental version) by Madonna and Patrick Leonard choreo. by David Wilson	Les Feuilles Mortes by Joseph Kosma Hymne à l'Amour by Édith Piaf choreo. by David Wilson	Like a Prayer by Madonna Vole by Celine Dion
2004–2005	Dumky Trio by Antonín Dvořák choreo. by Sébastien Britten	The Firebird by Igor Stravinski choreo. by Sébastien Britten	Labour of Love by Frente
2003–2004	Metamorphoses and Other Plays by Willy Schwartz	Il Etait Une Fois le Diable by Ennio Morricone	Paint It Black by Vanessa Carlton
2002–2003	Song from a Secret Garden by Rolf Lovland	Once Upon a Time in the West by Ennio Morricone
2001–2002	Somewhere in Time performed by Sir Simon Rattle Orchestra	La Fete des Fleurs a Genzano by Riccardo Drigo London Festival Ballet orchestra
2000–2001	Somewhere in Time	Istanbul not Constantinople by Joe Carr Puttin' On the Ritz by Irving Berlin

Competitive highlights

Results
International
Event	1998–99	1999–00	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10
Olympics								5th				3rd
Worlds					17th	8th	11th	7th	10th	5th	2nd
Four Continents				9th	8th	4th			3rd	2nd	2nd
Grand Prix Final							3rd				4th	5th
GP Bompard							1st	4th	4th		1st
GP Cup of China							3rd					3rd
GP Cup of Russia						4th				3rd
GP Skate Canada						10th		2nd	1st	3rd	1st	1st
Bofrost Cup						1st
International: Junior
Junior Worlds			8th	5th
JGP France			5th
JGP Italy				3rd
JGP Mexico			4th
JGP Poland				5th
Mladost Trophy		1st N.
National
Canadian Champ.	15th N.	1st N.	1st J.	3rd	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix

Team events
Event	2005-06	2006-07	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2013–14
World Team Trophy			2T / 2P
Japan Open	2T / 2P	3T / 3P		2T / 1P	2T / 1P	1T / 2P	2T / 2P
T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

Pro-am events
Event	2012–13	2014–15
Medal Winners Open	2nd	1st

See also

• Petra Burka
• Karen Magnussen
• Elizabeth Manley
• Barbara Ann Scott

External links

• Official website
• Joannie Rochette at the International Skating Union
• Joannie Rochette at the Internet Movie Database
• Skate Canada profile
• Team Canada profile