VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- In the middle of last football season, Bengals coach Mike Zimmer suffered a horrific blow: His wife Vikki died suddenly at home.That was on a Thursday. Zimmer coached that weekend, nonetheless.Seven years ago, quarterback Brett Favre suffered the same blow: His father died on a Sunday. The next night, on Monday Night Football, Favre famously stood up to his grief to create one of the most memorable moments in his storied career. He led the Green Bay Packers to victory in what was called in some circles a transcendent performance.Those weren't the first times we've witnessed athletes soldier on in the face of a most personal tragedy and loss. They won't, of course, be the last. But what we witnessed a young Canadian figure skater named Joannie Rochette do late Tuesday night in a packed arena at the Vancouver Games was gut-wrenching on another level.
Here was a woman who on Sunday learned that her mother Therese died quite suddenly and extremely unexpectedly. She was just 55. But young Joannie hit the Olympic ice at the Pacific Coliseum nonetheless and proceeded to skate what turned out to be her best short performance of the season. She then melted into tears upon receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.It must have felt to her like 50,000 hugs, and probably still not enough.
Read more here:
Joannie Rochette Perseveres, Inspires -- Olympics -- 2010 Winter Olympics from Vancouver FanHouse
0 comments:
Post a Comment