Born in Singapore and raised in Britain, the 35-year-old violin prodigy known as “Vanessa-Mae” on stage will represent Thailand using her Thai father’s surname “Vanakorn.” Known for fusing classical music with pop and techno, she landed one of the top spots on the U.K. albums charts with her breakout album The Violin Player (1995), and People listed her as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” “When it comes to music I am a perfectionist but when it is skiing, I have no delusions about a podium or even being in the top 100 in the world,” she told Reuters. “Living my dream of being a ski bum is great but the best job in the world is being on stage, making music.”
13 Sochi Olympians with Day Jobs
Did an Olympian just make your coffee? From barista to violinist to prince, a look at how athletes spend their time away from the mountains and ice