Heartbeat Highlights - 11 Olympic Qualifications

The figure skating World Championships were held last week in London, Ontario. It was THE event to determine the number of athletes each country can send to next year's Olympic Games.

Canada earned 11 total entries (of a possible 12) for Sochi 2014. At the 2010 Olympics, we had 8. The actual athletes chosen will be announced next season.

Entries for 2014 Olympics are determined according to the results of the World Championships. An event with one participant at the Worlds would require that participant to finish in the top 2 in order to send three competitors to the Olympics. If that participant finished in the top 10, 2 competitors qualify for Sochi 2014.

For events where a country had two or three participants, the total placements of the top two skaters/teams is used. If they add up to less or equal to thirteen - the country qualifies three entries for 2014. If they add up to less or equal to 28, the country qualifies two entries.

Here are the results with video links to their performances. The CBC website also have full competition videos if you're interested in seeing everyone. Click any of the links below and choose from the various videos offered.

Men's event:
Patrick Chan: 1st Click here for short programme and here for long programme.
Kevin Reynolds: 5th Click link for short programme and long.

Total 6 = 3 entries
(Andrei Rogozine finished 13th).

Women's event:
Kaetlyn Osmond: 8th = 2 entries (4th in short)
Click link to view short and free programmes.

Pair's event:
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford: 3rd Click here for short programme and here for long.
Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch: 4th Click here for short and here for free.

Total 7 = 3 entries

Dance event:
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir: 2nd Click link for short and free.
Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje: 5th Click here or here for short and here for the free program.

Total 7 = 3 entries
(Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier were 18th)

Joannie Rochette Avec Coeur Et Passion

Joannie Rochette was on the television program Tout Le Monde En Parle this week. She is releasing a new DVD entitled Avec Coeur et Passion (With Heart and Passion) which is an exercise video meant for the young and old, beginner and advanced. She calls her DVD an exercise programme for "monsieur et madame tout le monde" (mr and mrs everybody).

Her mother Thérèse died of a heart attack a few days before Joannie was to perform at the Olympic Games in 2010. Joannie went on to win a bronze medal in figure skating. She relived those days in the interview which was very touching explaining how her personal life came to meet up with her professional life.

She explained on the programme that her mother although seemingly in good health, did not exercise. She says that lack of exercise is one of the main reasons why people suffer heart attacks.

Her mother's death inspired her to do something. She explained that starting an exercise regime is not an easy thing and that her mother didn't know where to start. This DVD is Joannie's way of reaching others to get physically active and hopefully live a healthier life.

Proceeds of the DVD are going to iheartmom (mamandemoncoeur), Joannie' Heart Your Health Campaign associated with University of Ottawa Heart Institute. In a clip on the site, Joannie says "my mom's heart was always in the right place, I just wish she would have taken better care of it."

Here is the Tout Le Monde En Parle segment in case you would like to see it: