Mother of Canadian figure skating star Joannie Rochette dies

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The mother of Canadian figure skating star Joannie Rochette died unexpectedly Sunday in a Vancouver hospital. Therese Rochette, 55, and her husband, Normand, arrived in Vancouver from Montreal on Saturday to watch their daughter compete in the women’s figure skating event, which begins Tuesday.

Canadian Olympic Committee officials say a cause of death has not been determined.

Officials said that Rochette was with her father Sunday morning and the six-time Canadian champion still intends to compete.

Rochette is a world silver medalist and is Canada’s best hope to win a medal in women’s figure skating since Liz Manley won the silver in 1988, the last time the Games were in Canada.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver, Canada