Figure skater Rochette to compete despite death of mother (Roundup)

Feb 22, 2010, 0:15 GMT

Vancouver - Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette will compete in the women's short programme on Tuesday despite learning Sunday of the death of her mother.

The skater's mother, Therese, 55, was taken to Vancouver General Hospital early Sunday where she died, a Skate Canada official said. The cause of death was not revealed.

William Thompson, Skate Canada's chief executive, said: 'Joannie is doing as well as one expect. It has been an emotional rollercoaster for her.

'She made the decision that she wants to compete and maintain her training schedule. It is providing her with stability in a very uncertain time of her life.'

Rochette's parents arrived in Vancouver on Saturday to watch their daughter appear at the Games. The skater's father, Normand, went to the village early Sunday to inform his daughter of the news, a Canadian skating official said.

Rochette, 24, the reigning world silver medallist, has been drawn to skate 26th out of 30 competitors in the short programme, with the long programme following Thursday at the Pacific Coliseum.

Skate Canada said it planned to shield Rochette from the media in the next few days and plans to ask for special dispensation that would not require Rochette to speak to reporters in the mixed zone at the arena following Tuesday's programme.

In Tuesday's programme, reigning world champion Kim Yu-Na of South Korea has been drawn to skate 23rd, directly after Japan's Mao Asada, who is expected to be one of her main rivals. Japan's Miki Ando, another of the expected medal contenders, goes last.