BERTHIERVILLE – They waited in silence, then erupted in cheers as figure-skater Joannie Rochette presented a flawless short program at the Vancouver Olympics last night.

Some 75 family, friends and fellow skaters waited quietly until 11:30 p.m. then poured out the emotion as Rochette began her routine.

“She’s like our daughter,” said Mayor Bernard Grégoire, noting that only a bridge separates this town from Île Dupas, where Rochette was raised. She trained in Berthierville.

The room in a hotel near Highway 40 came alive with spontaneous applause when Korean superstar Kim Yuna dazzled with an outstanding program that earned a 78.5 score.

But nothing matched the emotion as tearful friends rose to cheer on the hero of this city of 5,000, 125 kilometres northeast of Montreal. Her score was 71.36, putting her third best in the field of 28 and her personal best score of the year..

The crowd had gathered in a hotel reception hall to watch Rochette’s big moment at the and a sign outside said it all:

“Go ! Go! Go! Joannie.”

Following the city’s decision to rename the local arena in her name, the hotel sent out a general invitation to the town’s 5,000 residents to come to cheer on the 24-year-old skating star for her short program.

By 9 p.m. about 50 people were quietly watching skaters on a big screen, waiting with their red Go Canada! flags for Rochette’s turn.

The big question, which no one seemed able to answer, was how the sudden death Sunday of her mother Thérèse of a heart attack would affect her performance on the ice.

Thérèse Rochette was her daughter’s biggest fan and most important critic, said Alain Bellhumeur, who was in Los Angeles when Rochette came second in the world championship.

“Joannie is a very strong athlete, who is able to overcome the most incredible obstacles. This is the greatest challenge of her life as an athlete, and if anyone can do it, it’s Joannie.

“But if it is less than expected, we will understand,” he said.

The competition is fierce, high school teacher Serge Boucher noted, but he was certain Rochette would not disappoint.

“She is strong enough, and in any case, we are behind her. I hope she will feel the love we are sending from this town, from throughout Quebec and across Canada.”

Wearing a Go! Go! Go! Joannie button, was Marilyn Tessier, 24, who at 9 was in the same artistic skating class as Rochette, under trainer Nathalie Riquier.

“She had the kind of talent that put her in a class of her own. The power of her jumps and her energy on the ice made her a winner at every competition.”

Tessier was hoping Rochette would find additional energy to overcome her grief.

“Whatever the result, the fact she is there and decided to compete is wonderful, medal or not.”

Sabrina Tessier, another skater, said Rochette would have to focus all her considerable energy on her performance and create a bubble that, for the next two days, excludes her mourning.

“Knowing her as I do, she will do a great job.”

Claudette Riquier, whose daughter was Rochette’s first trainer, first met her on the ice at age 3.

“She is strong, but what happened to her mother is something else. I spoke to my daughter and she was very optimistic.”

Laurent Lavallée felt that Rochette might even rise to new performance heights.

“For Joannie, her mother is still present. She has also performed and I believe in her.”

Nicole Grégoire, for years the president of the local figure skating club, recalled the young Rochette quickly mastering jumps and being extremely hard working.

“She was fearless on the ice.”

Last night’s gathering was meant to send out a clear message on behalf of area residents, Grégoire said:

“We are behind her, we are proud of her, and we would like to be skating with her.”

iblock@thegazette.canwest.com