The drama of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette's short program Tuesday night wasn't manufactured for the TV viewing audience. It couldn't have been more real, and more heartbreaking.
Video here.
VANCOUVER (AP) -- Canada's Joannie Rochette fought back tears for her entire heart-wrenching short program. When she finished, she couldn't hold back.
Skating two days after her mother's death, Rochette finished third in the short program Tuesday night at the Vancouver Olympics. Technically, it was almost perfect. Emotionally, it was exhausting.
Rochette put her hand to her mouth to stifle her cries while taking her bows, her eyes wet. After waving to the fans in each corner of Pacific Coliseum, she headed to the end boards, where coach Manon Perron waited. They hugged tightly as Rochette buried her head in Perron's shoulder and wept.
With fans still applauding her performance, the 24-year-old skater composed herself and awaited her marks. When she saw she was third, Rochette again began sobbing while blowing kisses to the crowd and patting her heart.
"I have no regrets," she said in a statement released by Skate Canada. "It was a very nice warm welcome -- hard to handle, but I appreciate the support. I'll remember this forever."
What a feat for Rochette to do her program so beautifully under such painful circumstances!
My heart goes out to her and her family.
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Before and after Rochette's skate, NBC repeatedly showed shots of a man in the crowd identified as her father.
Problem: It wasn't her dad.
NBC apologizes for inaccurate identification
During the NBC broadcast of Rochette's routine, the network identified a spectator as Rochette's father, Normand. NBC later said the spectator was actually a family friend, Denys Valiquette, and apologized.
NBC Olympic late night host Mary Carillo read a statement on air that said: "We were given his seat assignment by Skate Canada. It turned out that information was incorrect. We are deeply sorry for the mistake."
Though NBC did apologize, it didn't take responsibility for the mix-up, instead blaming Skate Canada for the inaccurate information.
It was a major mistake, but I think it's fair for NBC to explain why it identified the wrong man as Rochette's father. It was a very unfortunate but innocent error. The men do resemble each other a bit.
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