24 Olympic Moments That Defined the Sport of Figure Skating

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were supposed to be a career highlight for Canadian athletes, but for Joannie Rochette, what should have been a triumph was tinged with tragedy. While practicing two days before the short program, Rochette received the news that her mother had died suddenly. She chose to remain in the competition and skate in her mother's honor, securing the bronze medal in front of her home crowd. At the gala performance at the end of the competition, Rochette skated a new program to Celine Dion, her mother's favorite singer. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Watch Rochette's tribute to her mother here.