Joannie Rochette

Joannie Rochette is a Canadian figure skater recognized for her achievements in women's singles skating and her contributions to sports and medicine. Rochette began skating before age 2 and became the first female skater in Canada to win national titles at the novice, junior, and senior levels. She claimed six consecutive Canadian senior championships, establishing herself as a leader in Canadian women's figure skating.

On the international stage, Rochette earned 11 medals on the International Skating Union Grand Prix circuit and won three consecutive medals at the Four Continents Championships. She captured the silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships and competed at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games as the reigning world silver medalist. Her short program at those Games was skated to "La Cumparsita," and her free skate to "Samson and Delilah." Just two days before her short program in Vancouver, Rochette's mother passed away suddenly. Rochette delivered a personal best short program and secured the bronze medal, becoming the first Canadian woman to stand on the Olympic figure skating podium in 22 years. She was selected to carry the Canadian flag at the Closing Ceremony and was named Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year and co-recipient of the Vancouver Terry Fox Award. Her Olympic performance was also nominated in the "Best Moment" category at the ESPY Awards.

After retiring from competition, Rochette performed in international ice shows and tours, including Stars on Ice. She later pursued a career in medicine, enrolling at McGill University Faculty of Medicine and earning her MD degree. Rochette volunteered in Quebec's long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and is completing a residency in anesthesiology at Université de Montréal. She was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in recognition of her skating career. Rochette has also contributed to animated film, providing the French-language voice for the character Rochelle in "Les avions," the French version of Disney's "Planes."

Rochette is an advocate for health and humanitarian causes, serving as a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the University of Ottawa's iheartmom campaign, and collaborating with organizations such as World Vision and Right to Play. As a public speaker, she addresses topics including perseverance, performance under pressure, and the pursuit of multiple passions, drawing on her experiences in elite sport and medicine.