Violinist Mae ready to swap Stradivarius for skis

SHE'S a violin prodigy who has sold ten million albums - now Vanessa Mae is dreaming of Olympic success.

AMBITIOUS: Violinist Vanessa Mae wants to enter skiing events at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi 

But it's not a starring role in the London 2012 opening ceremony she is eyeing but the chance to represent Thailand as a downhill skier at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Mae, who was born in Singapore, raised in London but has a Thai father has already approached the national Olympic committee in Bangkok.

"But it has been my dream, and I am hoping people will accept I just want to give it my best," she told the Sunday Telegraph. 

"To even get to the Olympics, I have to qualify for the 2013 World Championships and the standard is high. 

"I know I am always going to be a few points behind the top guys. I am taking a plunge. I am British, but realistically there is no way I could represent my own country, but because my natural father is Thai, they have accepted me."

Mae had previously stated her ambition to represent Thailand in ski events at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but Thai authorities requested that she give up her British passport first.

Later, bureaucratic barriers were overcome and she received a Thai passport while keeping her British one.