Canada Mourns With Joannie Rochette.

The Olympic dream of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette took a dramatic turn this weekend when Joannie's mother, Therese, passed away in a Vancouver hospital after suffering of heart related problems.

This awful news was delivered to Joannie Rochette early Sunday morning, only three days before the short program, scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Many thought that Rochette could forfeit, but the 24 year-old skater from Ile-Dupas, Quebec, decided to stick with the plan and practice to prepare herself to compete Tuesday. A lesson and a source of inspiration for all of us.

Joannie's biggest supporter during the whole lenght of her career happened to be her own mother. The athlete is also convinced that to compete no matter the circumstances and the barriers is what was tought to her by her own mother during all those years.

Joannie is convinced that to compete is the best thing to do right now. She has to live her life-long dream knowing that somewhere, her mother Therese is quietly watching, proud of her beautiful and strong daughter.

We will be glued to our television screens Tuesday evening all across Canada in support of our strong, proud and talented athlete. We will all skate with her, twirl with her and push her higher, spin her faster, that she ever did in her career.

(Picture: Joannie and Therese Rochette, Sun Media.)