Young figure skaters have role models in Kim Yu-Na, Mao Asada and Canadian Joannie Rochette

Young skater at the 2010 US Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, WA. Photo by Sue Frause.

What great performances the figure skaters gave us last night! I had nary a dry eye as I stayed up late to watch the Women's Figure Skating Long Program of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea was perfection. Mao Asada from Japan the two triple axel queen. Quebec's Joannie Rochette a vision of blue courage.

Here's to the gold, silver and bronze medal winners -- and to Joannie and her father, who tragically lost their beloved mother and wife. She was most certainly smiling down on the ice on Thursday night.