Olympic Alpine skiing isn't typically a sport people dabble in.<br/> <br />But for 35-year-old Vanessa Mae -- who, by day is a world renowned violin virtuoso -- the chance to represent Thailand, was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) VIOLINIST AND OLYMPIC SKIER FOR THAILAND, VANESSA MAE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"At times I really felt that, ho, you know, this is insane to try to qualify but also insane to keep up the day jobs so I actually had to clear my diary and say, with one month left, to qualify I really, it's a now or never thing.<br/> <br />With only six months of training under her belt, competing alongside skiing superstars like Tina Maeze and Mikaela Shiffrin wouldn't be easy.<br/> <br />While she came in last, Mae considers her Giant slalom performance a victory --- a triumph over the mountain and her nerves.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) VIOLINIST AND OLYMPIC SKIER FOR THAILAND, VANESSA MAE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I literally thought I was going to die of a heart attack becaus
