Canada's Joannie Rochette withdraws from World Championships

OLYMPIC bronze medallist Joannie Rochette has withdrawn from next week's World Figure Skating Championships in Turin claiming she is not physically or emotionally prepared.

TIME OFF: Canada's Joannie Rochette has opted against competing at the World Figure Skating Championships next week (Getty Images)

The 24-year-old Canadian captured bronze just four days after her mother, Therese, died of a heart attack in Vancouver in an emotionally-charged competition at the Pacific Coliseum.

Rochette, who won silver at last year's World Championships in Los Angeles, vowed to participate at the Olympics despite her tragic news, insisting she would dedicate her performance to her mother.

But Rochette insists she is not ready to take to the rink again in Italy.

"I'm not prepared either emotionally or physically to skate well at these championships and challenge for the podium," said Rochette.

"Whenever I compete I want to give my best to the fans and to respect my competitive nature of the sport.

"I just would not be able to do that for either the fans or myself next week.

"I also want to wish our Canadian team members all the very best as they compete in Turin. They all have my best wishes for a great competition."

In Vancouver, Rochette clinched bronze behind Japan's Mao Asada and South Korean gold medallist Kim Yu-Na before carrying the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony.

Rochette, who will be replaced in the Canadian team at the World Championships by Myriane Samson, is the latest in a sizeable line of skaters to withdraw from the tournament in Turin.

American individual skaters Johnny Weir and Olympic gold medallist and defending champion Evan Lysacek will not be making the trip to Italy while Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin have also opted against defending their crown.