Joannie Rochette, a champion's heartAh, women's figure skating. In the world of female winter athletes, these competitive, disciplined beauties are comparative to the tough and unbelievably tenacious prima donna pixies of gymnastics. Similar requirements between both sports included plastered smiles, cemented hair, flashy spandex uniforms, half an inch of makeup and a healthy dose of sass (and yes, I do have friend in both sports who are probably going to kick my butt for those comments).

Both sports require early mental and emotional maturity in order to deal with the pressures asked of those who desire to rise to the top of the competitive world at such young ages. When I was sixteen I was worried about passing Algebra and learning to drive, but these girls are already accustomed to performing on the world's stage and preparing for (or in some cases competing in) the Olympic Games. It is a sport known for grace, agility, style and passion. Positive energy is a must and no sacrifice is too great if it means winning honor on the ice and glory off it.

But at times the things we lose on our path to life's victories are unexpected and heartbreaking. Just ask Joannie Rochette.

Rochette was born on January 13, 1986 in Montreal, Quebec to a loving family who soon found themselves surrounded by the hectic schedules and requirements of a young girl's figure skating dream (she was two years old when she first strapped on skates). With the encouragement and love of her mother, Rochette continued to practice with a passion and in 2000 she won the novice-level Canadian Championships. In 2001 she won gold in the Canadian Championships junior-level and 8th place in the Junior World Championships. In 2002 she came in 5th in the World Championships then 2nd in 2003 and 2004. She then began a stunning 6x Canadian Championships 1st place run that began in 2005 and ended in 2010.  This young woman's courageous spirit and iron will won her championship after championship and earned her a 5th place finish at the 2006 Turino, Italy Winter Olympic Games.

But that same spirit would be tested almost to its breaking point during the 2010 Winter Olympics held in her home country of Canada.

Entering the competition as a crowd favorite, Joannie walked in the Opening Ceremonies on February 12, 2010 with high hopes. And why shouldn't she? Rochette had worked hard, hitting the ice twice a day leading up to the Games. Oh, and she had won her 6th Canadian Championship, so the host country focused its attention on this 5' 2" blonde with the stunning smile. She had already won their hearts before she took the ice and they cheered her with a familial level of encouragement.

No one could have guessed what was coming next for this national champion.

On February 20th, Rochette's mother Thérèse flew to Vancouver to watch her daughter compete. This same daughter that she had pushed, loved, cried with and encouraged during the 24 years leading up to the 2010 Games. Joannie was excited to have her family with her as she prepared to take to the ice for her medal round short program. But on February 21st, just a day after her arrival, tragedy struck when Thérèse Rochette died suddenly of a heart attack in her hotel.

The champion that she is, Joannie was practicing on the ice when she received the devastating news. The Olympic community mourned her loss and NBC speed-skating commentator Dan Jansen sent an e-mail to Rochette and shared his experiences of his sister's passing during the Calgary Olympics in 1988. The heart-broken Joannie now had a choice to make: forgo the competition and take time to heal or take the ice to honor her mother, her biggest fan.

Rochette on the iceRochette chose the later. In an example of true Olympic heroism, while holding back her tears long enough to strap on her skates and apply her makeup, Joannie stepped onto the ice and nailed her short program with a personal best of 71.36, the third highest score of the night. On the 25th she again found the courage and strength to skate for a moving long program and found herself winning a bronze medal, thus making her the fifth Canadian in history to win an Olympic medal in ladies' figure skating.

Rochette's performance at the 2010 Olympic figure skating gala on February 27 featured Celine Dion's song "Fly" as a tribute to her mother, ending with her tear-streaked face raised to the heavens. Because of her inspiring determination in the face of these circumstances, Rochette  received the inaugural Terry Fox Award for the 2010 Winter Olympics and was chosen as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony. In December 2010, she was voted the Female Athlete of the Year by The Canadian Press.

Have you suffered a loss that was heart breaking and unexpected? I hope you know that you're not alone. Don't be afraid to talk about it, cry about it or miss that person. Cherish their memories and remember all the things they taught you, all the times they loved you and the ways they always encouraged you. Loss is a part of life, in many ways a natural part of it. As human beings we don't like losing; losing things, losing competitions or losing loved ones. But loss has a way of teaching us about what we have, what we had and what we can have in the future.

As Joannie can testify, life has a way of surprising us at the most unexpected moments. With loss, with gain, with heartache, with love. We cannot live in fear of tomorrow; rather, we must embrace it as a new friend, come what may. We should tell our loved ones that we actually love them and make today the day we pursue our dreams. Tomorrow is uncertain, but the here, the now, that is something we can affect.

What are you going to do with your todays?