VANCOUVER -- If only the crowd could have hugged Joannie Rochette for three solid minutes, ensuring she stayed on her feet through a performance that we're told was cathartic but surely must have been hellacious too, they would have all felt better.

The figure skater from Ile Dupas, Que. was everyone's daughter on Tuesday night at Pacific Coliseum, essentially adopted by Canadians not long after her mother Therese died early Sunday of a heart attack at age 55, leaving Joannie and father Normand to grieve under the sporting world's microscope.

But then she did the remarkable, she stood on her own, taller even than anyone could have hoped, with a medal chance still in her grasp at the end of the short program. She's third, locked in for bronze at 71.36, seven points clear of Japan's Miki Ando in fourth.

Korea's Yu-Na Kim boosted her own world record to 78.50 to lead the way, as expected, with Japan's Mao Asada hard on her heels at 73.78. Their duel kicked the energy into high gear but Rochette's sheer brilliance under immense strain infused the building with an overload of emotion.

She had walled herself off from the media and willed her emotions inside for days in order to get through the anguish and the program elements. When she was free and clear, having done the triple Lutz and double toe, the triple flip and double Axel, the spins and footwork, she could finally stop moving and thinking only about the skate.

She broke down in a flood of tears as the crowd stood to roar their approval and support. Her face was a palette of sorrow. In the kiss and cry area she called out in French again and again to her mother and the emotion rolled through the building in waves, finally settling when Julia Sebestyen of Hungary took her turn at centre ice.

"I feel good," Rochette said not long afterwards, in a statement made to Skate Canada official Mike Slipchuk. "Hard to be precise, but 10 years form now I would want to come back and try this again. I have no regrets."

The fans did their part and she continues to marvel at the value of their good wishes.

"Very nice, warm welcome," Rochette said. "Hard to handle but I appreciate the support. I will remember this forever."

This Olympic moment, the one she trained from conception to fruition over four years, belonged to everyone now, and if that sudden and overt expression of interest and empathy leant her short program skate a voyeuristic overtone, it was innocent enough. Gawd, nobody wanted to see her fall. Nary a soul in the rink dared draw a raspy breath before her first jump sequence, lest they build a wind capable of knocking her off her skates. When they stirred, it was only to applaud the courage of a 24-year-old woman who took one bold step under unthinkable circumstances Tuesday, and has one much longer remaining before she leaves the Olympic Games and focuses solely on attending to her real life in the wake of her mother's untimely death.

"No doubt in my mind that she was inspried by her mom tonight," said Skate Canada CEO William Thomspon. "Really, that was incredible to see her do that with the circumstances she was facing tonight. I'm so proud of her. She was so tough to get through it like that. She had me in tears. She put on a performance that was magical."

We will walk away from this competition in two days, following Thursday's short program, and whether Rochette's performance is humbly reflected in the standings or worthy of a medal, it will be her triumph and our moment. When the Rocket from Ile Dupas, Que. set foot to music at exactly 8:27, there wasn't an eye focused elsewhere, not a thought with anyone else in the field of 30 skaters.

And it had been a fabulous night already, with Kim, the nearly invincible reigning world champ, nailing her James Bond medley and a triple-triple combination to stand where we all knew she would, in first place.

"She just did what she normally does," said Kim's coach Brian Orser. "She's a real competitor. I think comparing the two programs, having them back to back is better for Yu-Na because of the entertainment value of Yu-Na's program. I think it was the perfect vehicle for her. I think any judge on any panel would lean toward that sytle and that choreography because of the thought put into it."

Asada, the only woman in the world and this competition with a clean triple Axel, skated immediately before Kim, who was watching. The Axel practically raised the roof on the place.

"Mao skated perfectly," said Kim. "I was a little worried but no, there was no pressure."

That's because Kim has that much faith in her short program package, which is unrivalled in the world. Though Asada rode her big trick for all it was worth, she is still in second spot, about five points behind her fierce rival. Rachael Flatt of the U.S. is fifth.

"I am very relieved," Asada said. "This is the best short program I have skated this year."

After that duel had been done, Rochette was on the horizon and a sense that the best was surely yet to come continued to permeate the atmosphere. What a rare treat then, because this was a great night for ladies skating, despite the unspoken worry in the crowd.

The mood was brightened, not first, but certainly markedly by American Mirai Nagasu, who skated 11th and made it through her Pirates of the Caribbean program despite a bleeding nose. She landed two triples, two doubles and soared, sans tissue, to a score of 63.76 that held up until the big girls started doing their thing.

Cynthia Phaneuf of Contrecoeur, Que. couldn't stay with them, not after she fell on her butt during a rather innocent looking step sequence. With 57.16, she sits in 14th place.

"That stupid fall," she said. "I was feeling so good out there. The crowd was amazing. It never happens to me. I couldn't forget it when the program was over. It wasn't even a jump, it was just stupid. It was a big surprise and it cost me one point. I was so disappointed."

It's the Olympics. Things happen and some are unexpected. Some are uplifting, like the skate of Elene Gedevanishvili, who represented Georgia with everything she had, hoping to brighten the mood back home where they are mourning luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. She is a superb ninth at 61.92.

"I did whatever I could, every jump, every spin," she said. "I hope everyone will be happy but sadness will still be in our hearts. It's really heartbreaking for all of my country."

Her small, grieving delegation has felt the support of Olympians and Canadians here, and she in turn leant hers to Rochette.

"I could not help myself from crying."

It was that kind of night, when mixed emotions had everyone searching for a focus, hoping it was going to write itself a happy ending.