Joannie Rochette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joannie Rochette, MD, CM |
|
|---|---|
Rochette at the 2009 Worlds.
|
|
| Personal information | |
| Country represented | Canada |
| Born | January 13, 1986 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Home town | La Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas, Quebec, Canada |
| Height | 1.60 m |
| Former coach | Manon Perron Nathalie Martin Josée Normand Sébastien Britten Nathalie Riquier |
| Former choreographer | Shae-Lynn Bourne Lori Nichol David Wilson Sandra Bezic |
| Skating club | CPA Berthierville |
| Retired | 2013 |
| 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 |
Joannie Rochette (born January 13, 1986) is a Canadian physician and a former competitive figure skater. She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She also earned a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships. Joannie was a six-time Canadian national champion from 2005 to 2010.
Contents
Skating Journey
Joannie Rochette was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She grew up in La Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas. Joannie started skating when she was only two years old. Her mother took her to the rink, and she quickly fell in love with the sport. She began taking lessons at the Berthierville Skating Club.
In 1999, Joannie started working with a team of coaches. She won the 2000 Canadian Championships at the novice level. The next year, she won her second national title at the junior level. She then competed at the World Junior Championships, finishing 8th.
Rising Through the Ranks
Joannie continued to improve each season. In 2002, she won a bronze medal at the Canadian Championships as a senior skater. She also competed at the Four Continents Championships and the World Junior Championships.
By the 2003–04 season, Joannie began competing in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. She won the Bofrost Cup on Ice. She also earned her second silver medal at the Canadian Championships. She placed 8th at the World Championships.
First Major Wins
The 2004–05 season was a big one for Joannie. She won a bronze medal at the 2004 Cup of China. She then won the 2004 Trophée Eric Bompard. These wins helped her qualify for the Grand Prix Final, where she won a bronze medal.
Joannie won her first Canadian senior title at the 2005 Canadian Championships. This made her the first Canadian female skater to win national titles at all three levels: Novice, Junior, and Senior. Her performance helped Canada earn two spots for the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Olympic Debut and Continued Success
At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Joannie placed 5th. She continued to win national titles, earning her third consecutive win in 2007. She also won a bronze medal at the 2007 Four Continents.
In the 2007–08 season, Joannie won her fourth straight Canadian title. She also earned a silver medal at the 2008 Four Continents. She placed 5th at the World Championships.
World Silver Medal
The 2008–09 season was another highlight. Joannie won the 2008 Skate Canada and the 2008 Trophée Eric Bompard. She won her fifth consecutive Canadian title. At the 2009 Four Continents Championships, she won a silver medal.
At the 2009 World Championships, Joannie won the silver medal. This was a major achievement, as she was the first Canadian woman to win a medal at the World Championships in many years.
Leading Up to the 2010 Olympics
In the 2009–10 Grand Prix season, Joannie won a bronze medal at the 2009 Cup of China. She then won a gold medal at the 2009 Skate Canada International. These results helped her qualify for the Grand Prix Final.
2010 Winter Olympics
Joannie was chosen to represent Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics after winning her sixth straight Canadian National title.
Just before the competition, Joannie received very sad news. Her mother passed away suddenly in Vancouver. Despite her grief, Joannie decided to continue competing in her mother's honor. Her strength and determination inspired many people around the world.
She skated her best, setting a new personal record in the short program. Two days later, she performed well in the long program. She earned the bronze medal, becoming the fifth Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in ladies' figure skating.
At the Olympic gala, Joannie performed to Celine Dion's song "Vole" as a tribute to her mother. For her amazing courage, she received the first-ever Terry Fox Award at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She was also chosen to be the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
Life After Skating
After the 2010 Olympics, Joannie was voted Female Athlete of the Year by The Canadian Press. She officially retired from competitive skating in 2013.
In August 2017, Skate Canada announced that Joannie Rochette would be inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.
Personal Life and Career
Joannie's mother, Thérèse Rochette, passed away on February 21, 2010. Joannie chose to continue competing in her mother's honor. At her mother's funeral, she placed her Olympic bronze medal on the casket for a short time. Joannie has since become a spokesperson for the "iheartmom" campaign. This campaign raises awareness for heart disease in women. She has also worked with World Vision.
Joannie went back to school after her skating career. She studied hard and enrolled in medical school at McGill University in 2016. In April 2020, she earned her medical degree. She announced that she would be working in Quebec's long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Images for kids
-
Rochette during her short program La Cumparsita at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
See also
In Spanish: Joannie Rochette para niños
