Canadian Olympic skater Joannie Rochette lost her mother to a heart attack early Sunday morning.  Her mother was her number one fan.  On Tuesday, she skated through pain and stifled tears to achieve the greatest performance of her career.

The Canadian brotherhood present in the rink extended palpable warmth and support through their claps and cheers.  When the universe seems unfathomably cruel, it is nice to know that we can answer back in stunning grace, skill and style.  Mlle. Rochette, you did just that, and our hearts are with you.

Commentator Scott Hamilton gave a very quiet show of support:  silence.  Rochette skated her entire short program without any comment by Hamilton or his colleagues on all the elements that suddenly seemed so pointless in a time of such loss:  jumps, landings, turns, artistry.  Perhaps the choice to be silent was obvious, but the lack of discussion was so pronounced and unusual that it RESOUNDED on the airwaves.  Sometimes it’s not what we do, but what we don’t do that is the strongest action.

Here’s to a mother’s love.  RIP Therese Rochette.

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