Posted on 02/28/2010 1:28:32 PM PST by Steelfish
Rochette Chosen As Canada's Closing Flagbearer
VANCOUVER (AP) -- Figure skater Joannie Rochettehas been chosen as Canada's flagbearer for the closing ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics.
Rochette won a bronze medal, skating just days after the unexpected death of her mother in Vancouver.
The 24-year-old skater from Quebec says she is surprised by the honor of carrying the flag because Canada's team has at least 13 gold medals. Team officials said Sunday she was selected because of her courageous performance last week, which inspired many of her teammates.
Rochette acknowledges it's been a tough week for her emotionally. But she says she wants to walk into the closing ceremony Sunday night with a smile on her face and celebrate with her teammates.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcolympics.com ...
No problem at all with this. Very inspirational.
I agree - - she’s the proper choice.
Canada Ping eh!
She skated a great performance in all of the rounds and earned her medal.
Add to that the pressure of representing the host nation and the shock of tremendous grief and her accomplishment becomes much more. She has great character.
She was inspired by her mom and in return she honored her mom with her performance.
A well deserved honor.
In the Games, she’s everyone’s sweetheart! Classy, fine performance, and dignified in the face of wrenching grief.
A fine choice indeed ...
But, Canada originally chose Hamlin (the short-track speedskater) to carry the flag) ...
I wonder if Canada got shamed into it, after all, they benched a legally blind cross-country skier for the 50K Classic in favor of another skier (a race that they didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of medalling in) - and they caught a raft of sh*t for it ...
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Nice to see the Canadians feeling good about their country again. Maybe someday they’ll get tired of socialism and chuck it, eh?
Well done, Canada.
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