Vanessa Mae to ski at Winter Olympics?

20 January 2014, 14:32 | Updated: 20 January 2014, 14:38

Violinist Vanessa Mae will compete in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games for the Thailand skiing team using her father's surname, Vanakorn.

The British-born violinist originally announced her intention to train for the Sochi Olympics back in 2010. Her participation is yet to be officially confirmed, but it is thought that her results in recent competition are enough to get her through.

Qualifying didn't come easy, however, as Mae had to achieve an average score of under 140 points in four giant slalom races in Slovenia over the weekend (scores are ranked inversely in the event).

Her results in the events in Slovenia suggest that she has achieved an average score or under 140 points. Her manager told the BBC: "It would appear that she's done it. She's done it by a whisker, but she's done it."

Slovenian skier Marko Rudolf added: "Vanessa Mae has unofficially qualified for the Olympic Games."

Mae herself told The Telegrah, "I have no delusions about a podium or even being in the top 100 in the world… it has been my dream to be a ski bum since I was 14. This is something I am determined to do. I wanted to compete for Thailand because there is a part of me which I have never celebrated - being Thai."

She will be only the second Thai person to have competed in the Winter Olympics, which are due to begin on February 6th.