Joannie Rochette

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My name is Rowan van der Marel and my heroine is the Canadian Olympic figure skater Joannie Rochette. I chose her because she really inspired me to try figure skating, which I have wanted to do for over two years. I used to think that I could not do anything on ice; I would watch the older kids doing their waltz jump with an extra spin on the end, and every year my parents took me to Disney on ice and I felt like it was all beyond me . However, when I heard about Joannie and how her mom died before she went on the ice to compete, it touched me. I thought about my few troubles compared with her sorrow, and yet she still went on. I knew after hearing that, that I could at least try.

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Powerful, dynamic and musical are words that describe the six-time Canadian figure-skating Champion and World Silver Medalist Joannie Rochette. Joannie's story begins on January 13, 1986 in Montreal, Quebec, the first day of her life. Joannie was skating from an early age, when her mother first took her to an ice rink. She started winning competitions within a few years of taking up skating. Manon Perron is her coach. Joannie dreamed of participating in the 2006 Olympics that were being held in the country Italy. Her dream came true when she was chosen to represent Canada in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Just two days before her performance, tragically, Therese Rochette, Joannie's mother, died of a heart attack. Despite this devastating news Joannie chose to stay and compete, earning herself not only her own personal best score, but also an Olympic medal. Did you know that her second choice as a career was a doctor? Joannie's roll models are Sylvie Frechette, the Canadian Olympic synchronized swimmer & Rafael Nadal, the Spanish Tennis player.

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I am really glad to have learned so much about such an inspiring person. Joannie has taught me not only about talent and endurance but also about continuing to realize your dream even in the saddest of circumstances. Before I came to live in Canada I had never heard of Joannie Rochette and I had not figure skated. Here I am, a year later, and not only do I know about this amazing woman but I am on my own way to being able to figure skate. I hope that Joannie goes on to challenge herself and continue to figure skate and inspire young people like me.