[Article] Joannie Rochette Looking to Three-Peat

When asked about including a triple-triple combination in her long program at nationals next week in Halifax, Rochette said she has not made a decision as to whether she will attempt the triple-flip triple-toe combination. “We are not sure if it [Canadians] is the right time for me to try it,” Rochette said adding that she has been training with a lot of boys at home and has found it very stimulating to work on her triple-triple alongside them.

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Rochette said that she has been working with sports psychologist, Wayne Halliwell, since the summer to help her focus on her job and to let everything else go. “[I am learning] to take it all less seriously sometimes,” she said. “We talk about skating and nothing else. We don’t want to make excuses about other things in life that might affect our skating because I don’t really believe in that. We just talk about work and skating.”

When asked about competing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Rochette said she is very secure in achieving that goal. “I don’t think four years is that long,” she said. “I have lots to work on and definitely the [international] competition is going to be tough with Kimmie, Yu-Na and Mao, but competitions don’t have favorites.”

Taking time off from competing between now and 2010 is not in Rochette’s game plan. “I think you need to keep up with your competition every year because it is a sport that is improving so quickly that you need to stay on top. Otherwise, the other girls will pass you and it will be hard to catch up to them.

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