Rochette pulls out of figure skating worlds

Joannie Rochette has withdrawn from next week's figure-skating world championships, citing the emotional toll taken by winning Olympic bronze shortly after her mother's death.

Rochette, the silver medallist at the 2009 worlds, finished third at last month's Vancouver Games, less than a week after her mother, Thérèse, died of a heart attack.

"With everything that has happened over the past few weeks, I have missed a significant amount of training time. That means I'm not prepared either emotionally or physically to skate well at these championships and once again challenge for the podium," the 24-year-old from Île-Dupas, Que., said in a statement released by Skate Canada.

"Whenever I compete, I want to give my best to the fans, and to respect the competitive nature of the sport. I just would not be able to do that for either the fans or myself next week."

The Canadian champion's spot on the national team will be filled by Myriane Samson, 22, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

Cynthia Phaneuf, 22, of Contrecoeur, Que., will also skate for Canada in the singles competition at the world championships, which open March 22 in Turin, Italy.

Rochette became one of the biggest — and best — stories of the Vancouver Olympics after overcoming her grief to turn in an inspiring performance that earned her the bronze medal behind Kim Yu-Na of South Korea and Japan's Mao Asada.

Rochette was later named Canada's flag-bearer for the Games' closing ceremony.

The skater thanked fans from Canada and around the world who supported her after the death of her mother, whose funeral was held March 4 in Berthierville, Que.

"I want you all to know that your words of encouragement have truly helped me to get through this very difficult time," she said.

"I also want to wish our Canadian team members all the very best as they compete in [Turin]. They all have my best wishes for a great competition."