In one unforgettable moment of Olympic history - or travesty, rather - her life was irrevocably changed.

Now, four months after the whirlwind judging scandal that saw Canadian Jamie Sal? and her figure-skating partner and boyfriend, David Pelletier, dramatically elevated to joint gold medallists in the pairs competition in the Winter Olympics, Sal? says they are making the most of their new-found celebrity status while keeping a close reality check.

"We turned pro in April and signed a four-year deal with (an ice skating production that travels to various North American cities). We do rehearsals in September and again in December and then we start in January and the show runs until June and then it starts all over again," said the female half of the combination that was catapulted into international headlinesafterFrench judge Marie-Reine LeGougne allegedly admitted cheating for the Russian pair of Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

Since that February night in Salt Lake City when most people expected to hear the national anthem "O Canada", Sal? and Pelletierhave been swamped with charity engagements and sponsorship appearances. They did manage a vacation and are now spending time with their respective families. Sal?, 25, is in Bermuda visiting her dad, Gene, who has been living here for the past two years and who was recently remarried in Jamaica.

"You have to remember where you came from and what and who is important in your life and you just stick to the people in your circle.

"David and I are both pretty grounded people. We are very simple and we have always surrounded ourselves with good people. That's why we have been able to keep things in perspective," said the Edmonton, Alberta, resident, of how they have taken things in stride.

Certainly her lively and accommodating personality would have helped as she adjusted to the scrutiny of world attention that has made hers one of the most recognisable faces in sports.

"I don't have much of a private life anymore," she said candidly, taking a few minutes from dinner with family and friends at D'Mikado.

Is that good or bad? She paused for a moment before replying.

"It can be good. We use it as a good thing. You have to. You can't use this as a negative thing. Obviously, if we had won the gold that first night we wouldn't be as popular as we are. People were drawn to the controversy."

Of course there are invaluable perks - meeting basketball legend Michael Jordan, ice hockey stars Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr and actor Robert Redford; fans yelling "congratulations" to them everywhere and free entrance to trendy places.

"We probably wouldn't have gotten to do all those things if not for this situation."

The incident has also bound the duo for life.

"We can't skate with anybody else now," declared Sal?, laughing.

On a sober note, the petite figure skater recalled the days of see-saw drama and uncertainty - and finally victory - as one of the Olympics' darkest moments overshadowed the spirit of the Games.

"We went there to do our personal best like we always try to do when we compete. We worked our whole lives to get there and we weren't going to let anything tarnish that win. We knew we had skated our best," she said, adding they were "really shocked" to be eventually awarded gold medals.

Though they would have preferred a quiet medal ceremony away from the spectacle of the rink where they were robbed of their rightful triumph, Sal? and Pelletierwere pleased the Russian skaters, who also kept their gold medals, shared the occasion.

"That meant a lot - that they were good sportsmen - because I am sure it was just as hard on them. I mean to find out you shouldn't have won would be pretty saddening. So we were happy they came and showed their support.

"It was just weird because you dream of hearing your anthem on the night that you win and when they played our anthem, and then the Russian anthem, it wasn't the same but we all made the best of the situation."

While Sal?'s dad, Gene, is also thrilled that wrong was put right, his little girl would always have been a winner in his eyes - even if her medal had never been exchanged. Seated next to her, he spoke with tender pride.

"I was just as proud of her with the silver medal as with the gold medal. They skated their best. Everybody was proud of them. Everybody knew they had won. There was no question about it. It was just politics. They gave their best and that was all that mattered to me."