The Sommer Frieze

I just saw this news story now.

It is hard enough to compete as an Olympic athlete, especially, sometimes in your home country. The expectations of your native land can be a great weight upon your shoulders—not to mention your own expectations after training so hard and so long. The nerves could be tremendous.

I will admit that I haven’t seen much of the figure skating so far. Just not me. If it’s on, I’ll watch it. I won’t go out of my way to see it, however.

But I can imagine that one has to be light on their feet in the sport. I can’t skate, so don’t ask me.

But one skater tonight will have an extra burden. The personal expectations and hope of her country (the home country) will mean nothing compared to the heavy heart she will take onto the ice.

For Joannie Rochette of Canada won’t be skating in front of her mother. I just read the NY post article on this.

Rochette’s mother arrived in Vancouver from Montreal on Saturday. On Sunday, she suffered a fatal heart attack.

Her heart must be extremely heavy. Let’s hope she skates that heart out tonight.