Annie Bellemare was born on January 2nd, 1980 in Quebec (Canada). At the age of eight, when she saw fellow Canadian Elizabeth Manley win her 1988 Olympic silver medal, she turned to her neighbor and proudly declared that she would one day win one too. Now, at the age of twenty, the innocent-faced blonde hair beauty is well on her way
to triumph. Annie Bellemare currently trains in Boucherville at one of the most elite skating schools in Quebec where she is coached by Stephane Yvars. Her choreographers, Julie Brault and Marijane Stong, have also played a significant role in her development from skating dreamer to skating superstar.

According to the book "Figure Skating Now", the turning point in her career came at the 1999 Canadian Nationals, where Annie wowed the judges and proudly brought home a
silver medal. The book quotes Annie saying, "Everything got so big from there". It most certainly did. The following year, in 2000, Annie won the bronze medal. She also won a
bronze medal at the Four Continents Championships, making her country extremely proud of her. In 2001, Annie remained a dominant competitor at the National championships, again taking the bronze medal. The Skate Canada Organization (formerly known as the Canadian Figure Skating Association) decided to send Annie to the World Championships rather than silver medalist, Nicole Watt. Annie finished in 21st place, and says she learned "a lot about handling myself at a world championship." Annie's remarkable artistic flair on the ice, along with her grace and poise, makes her a Canadian crowd favorite. "I just love her! She's so amazing... when she skates, I can't take my eyes off her. I always want her to do well," says Jennifer, one enthusiastic 15 year old fan. Because Canada can only send one lady competitor to the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Annie knows her chances of becoming an Olympian this season are slim. She says her focus is on the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. "I plan to win a medal", she says. Along with her skating, Annie also works part-time at a skating boutique in Montreal, where fans sometimes come to have skating dresses made and chat with the charming skater. "In
Quebec, I would have to say, Annie Bellemare is the leading lady. Everybody loves her. She's not snobby... with her nose stuck in the air. She's sweet and down-to-earth, and as
soon as you meet her, it's obvious," says Stephanie, a fan who met Annie at the boutique last year. Olympic medal or not, Annie Bellemare will always be known as a true and genuine skating sweetheart.