Originally Posted by conroy22
From the past 15 years of my skating career, and watching competitions on tv, I have never been taught a lesson like she has taught me. When I was in high school, my mother picked me up at lunch one day so I could get ready for a competition later that night, but when I got in her car she told me that my grandfather had passed away that morning. I struggled fighting back tears the rest of the day, but when I got on the ice and started my program, the only thing I was thinking about was skating well for him, and I did.
I knew what she was going through the past few days, just not to the extend that it was my mother that had passed away. I can't even imagine what that would be like. For figure skaters, especially little girls, their moms are everything to them. From getting them up for practice at 5am, getting costumes, having daughters or families move away, making huge sacrifices that many people would not believe figure skaters have to go through, and making sure everything is always just right. My dad never really supported me and my sister in skating, it was always my mom who did everything. It is just heartbreaking to imagine having to go through loosing a mother on the eve of the most important competition in her life, their family devoted their whole lives for those four minutes she was out on the ice.
Simply having the courage to step out onto that ice surface with the world watching her, and laying down such a perfect, emotional performance, was simply breathtaking. I am so proud to be a Canadian figure skater right now. She has inspired so many little girls out there, as well as an entire nation. Her mother watched her live her dreams as tears poured down my face, knowing that she skated so beautifully for her mother.
You are the pride and joy of Canadian women's figure skating, and you have brought the world to their feet. Congratulations Joannie, you deserve it!
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