World-famous British violinist Vanessa Mae has revealed the sporting sacrifices she had to make as a child to focus on her music career.
The 35-year-old's mother, Pamela Tan-Nicholson, taught her to ski when she was four, but was less forthcoming once Mae, whose father is from Thailand, started to show her musical talent.
"I gave up horse riding as a child because my mother didn't like me doing anything that was dangerous," she told the Daily Mail.
"It wasn't a big sacrifice as music was more important to me. I was honestly not rebellious as a child – except when it came to skiing.
"My mother introduced me to skiing, but when the violin became a big part of my life she didn't want me to doing something she thought could be dangerous."
Mae will compete for Thailand in alpine skiing at the ongoing Sochi Games under the name Vanessa Vanakorn.
