All smiles for Vanessa Mae despite violinist finishing LAST on Olympic skiing debut

[richard_smith237]

She looks like an excellent skier to me. As someone who has being skiing since a relatively young age I doubt that I look as proficient as this when I ski.

Well done to her. She clearly fell within the rules, she made the qualifying times. She deserved to be there and give it a shot.

Don't blame her because the rules suited her when other skiers who are maybe faster couldn't represent their country because faster skiers already were...

There are some very bitter and sour children posters on this forum, fortunately outshone by the many positive posters who have the ability to see beyond the negative.

[Jasun]

"Sadly no Max, no Olympic Village for me!"

I was prepared to celebrate the underdog until I discovered she refused to stay in the Olympic village because they wouldn't let her dog in. Now she just comes across as an opportunist.

[ChrisY1]

I'm a big fan of her.....anyway, she added a little sunshine amongst all the crap happening here at present.

[MMarlow]

It is a real shame that Thailand with all of its elite wealth couldn't field a real athletic competitor. Rather instead they put this show girl up and look at her pose and picture. It makes a mockery out of Olympic athletic competition. It shows what the Thais are all about. It doesn't even show her in a pose with her violin.

Your posts continue to make a mockery of human intelligence. You really have no idea about what goes on in the Olympics or who is allowed to enter and on what terms, do you?

[tomyummer]

Just curious to hear what actual resident Thai citizens think about Vanessa competing for Thailand. Yay or nay.

[belg]

just another has been craving for attention

[pedro01]

Making a mockery of the sport, the serious athletes, and the Olympics, not to mention dragging Thailand to be last.

People always using Thailand when they can't cut it in their own countries.

Is there some reason the Olympics must be devoid of fun?

This is no worse than the Jamaican bob-sled team.

Lighten up.

[phantomfiddler]

So many people here highly critical of a young lady who is EXTREMELY good at one thing, while they themselves are most likely completely inept at anything other than knocking people Good on you, Vanessa, for completing the course without injury and doing something you always wanted to do

[brimacthai]

Well at least she's out there doing it... and not breaking any laws either. If she qualified she qualified. Yes she came last but I believe she was still on her feet (skis) at the finish line too... better than some! And I'm not taking anything away from those that competed and didn't finish...

bugger me they qualified for the Olympics... just being there... my hat's off to all of the people who competed and to all of those that tried to qualify and didn't make it... better luck in 4 years!

[pedro01]

I don't think she is even a Thai citizen. She can't speak Thai and grew up in the U.K. and got to the Olympics just because of her looks and tenuous connection to Thailand, it is really disrespectful that she was allowed to compete with real atheletes who have trained a better part of their lives to achieve this goal.

Making a mockery of the sport, the serious athletes, and the Olympics, not to mention dragging Thailand to be last.

People always using Thailand when they can't cut it in their own countries.

Both posts complete and utter tripe. The Olympics is/was for everybody, and for anyone to get off their fat ass and enter (they DO have to pass a minimum time trial standard to be allowed to participate), then good on them. She has put in a great deal of training for this which is no mean feat in between her music career. I guess if there was an olympic sport for procrastinating whilst sat at a computer with a large bag of crisps and 6 cans of beer a night you two would be in top medal position.

She is a Thai citizen and got to the Olympics because she went through the trials and passed. Nothing to do with good looks (but what a bonus she has them!). All a bit like Winter Olympic teams from any other country without snow, in that competition for a team place is not going to be that tough, but non the less you have to pass a minimum international standard to get in to represent a nation.

I bet you two are the kind of folks that think the driver in grid position number 21 in a grand prix is a sh*t driver, yet the time difference between pole and 21 might be 1.2 seconds. Get off back to training then, another bag of crisps and some buttered toast with a few nice cups of sugary tea.

"I guess if there was an olympic sport for procrastinating whilst sat at a computer with a large bag of crisps and 6 cans of beer a night you two would be in top medal position."

Brilliant...

[NongKhaiKid]

Just curious to hear what actual resident Thai citizens think about Vanessa competing for Thailand. Yay or nay.

As I posted earlier I have mentioned her name to a few Thais and none knew who she was far less her competing for Thailand.

[jinners]

I don't think she is even a Thai citizen. She can't speak Thai and grew up in the U.K. and got to the Olympics just because of her looks and tenuous connection to Thailand, it is really disrespectful that she was allowed to compete with real atheletes who have trained a better part of their lives to achieve this goal.

Her father is Tahi, HTF is that a tenuous connection? What put a flea up your arse about the other athletes she competed against? Joke? Yes she went to the olympics because of her looks.

[tomyummer]

Just curious to hear what actual resident Thai citizens think about Vanessa competing for Thailand. Yay or nay.

As I posted earlier I have mentioned her name to a few Thais and none knew who she was far less her competing for Thailand.

I guess Thais have more important things to worry about now.

I was just wondering about their sentiments of having a foreigner that is a pseudo Thai (or 'Thai on technicalities' having never lived in Thailand or being able to speak Thai) representing Thailand for self enrichment purposes after never really giving a damn about her father's country until a few years ago.

[orosee]

If there was an Olympic competition for being mean and hateful, I'm certain ThaiVisa could field the entire event.

Ironically, one of the haters would come in last...

[canardo]

Probably she came in last and late as she stopped every 5 meter for taking photos / selfies...

Anyway she is an eye candy!

[richard_smith237]

I don't think she is even a Thai citizen. She can't speak Thai and grew up in the U.K. and got to the Olympics just because of her looks and tenuous connection to Thailand, it is really disrespectful that she was allowed to compete with real atheletes who have trained a better part of their lives to achieve this goal.

It is a real shame that Thailand with all of its elite wealth couldn't field a real athletic competitor. Rather instead they put this show girl up and look at her pose and picture. It makes a mockery out of Olympic athletic competition. It shows what the Thais are all about. It doesn't even show her in a pose with her violin.

She has a Thai Passport, her real / birth Father is Thai - She is Thai. That is not in doubt.

Why pose with a violin? She's not using it to ski with is she ?

Would any other attractive athlete posing for a 'cover style' photo also be making a mockery out of Olympic athletic competition?.

Vanessa made the qualifying time, whats so hard to understand about that?.. She qualified to enter !!!!

We can reverse the situation: The Winner and Olympic Champion of the Giant Slalom has attempted to enter the music industry with a Single and Music Video called "My Way is My Decision".... Is she making a mockery of the Music Industry ? (even if her Video has had just 150,000 views online).

[DrTuner]

So, now that the promotion is over, what's she selling, a new album ? Or was she just trying to get next to Putin for a chance at the Empress seat ?

[canman]

Wow, what do so many of you have against this girl? A super talented woman who qualifies for one of the scariest of Olympic sports, finishes and we have all these haters! What did Vanessa ever do to you?

How many of you have had a go on a black diamond trail let alone a full olympic course?

[tomyummer]

If there was an Olympic competition for being mean and hateful, I'm certain ThaiVisa could field the entire event.

Ironically, one of the haters would come in last...

All in fun and jest while pretending to work at my desk.

But I am the one on the podium with the gold medal around my neck.

[tomyummer]

So, now that the promotion is over, what's she selling, a new album ? Or was she just trying to get next to Putin for a chance at the Empress seat ?

Sorry, you're the one with the gold medal around the neck.

[steffi]

Does anybody know how this worked? Was it sen sai that got her this spot? Was there anybody more qualified as a skier in Thailand to race? Didn't see say she's only being doing competition for a few months?

[NongKhaiKid]

Just curious to hear what actual resident Thai citizens think about Vanessa competing for Thailand. Yay or nay.

As I posted earlier I have mentioned her name to a few Thais and none knew who she was far less her competing for Thailand.

I guess Thais have more important things to worry about now.

I was just wondering about their sentiments of having a foreigner that is a pseudo Thai (or 'Thai on technicalities' having never lived in Thailand or being able to speak Thai) representing Thailand for self enrichment purposes after never really giving a dam_n about her father's country until a few years ago.

You could also add in what would the Thai reaction be if she had won a medal ?

[tx22cb]

Making a mockery of the sport, the serious athletes, and the Olympics, not to mention dragging Thailand to be last.

People always using Thailand when they can't cut it in their own countries.

Absolute rubbish. She is qualified to represent Thailand, has trained for years to achieve this, did her best. There is no shame in coming last..in fact, it is a time-honoured tradition at the Olympics that the person coming last gets as much of a cheer from the crowd as the winner, celebrating the efforts in even getting that far. Well done, Vanessa Mae !!

Trained years during family vacations at posh ski resorts. Any serious recreational skier could qualify for Thailand at B class. Just another personal attention story. Makes her only other compatriot Sucharitakul look like a joke. Why not represent the UK? Leave real aspiring Thai athletes for real Thais.

Stick to the violin.

Why the hate?

She obviously qualifies on all counts, because she participated.

She conducted herself very well and was a model representative of Thailand.

And she is a true amateur.

As for "Leave real aspiring Thai athletes for real Thais", she is the one of the top Thai skiers, so which other Thai skier did Vanessa Mae exclude from the Thai team?

[tomyummer]

Just curious to hear what actual resident Thai citizens think about Vanessa competing for Thailand. Yay or nay.

As I posted earlier I have mentioned her name to a few Thais and none knew who she was far less her competing for Thailand.

I guess Thais have more important things to worry about now.

I was just wondering about their sentiments of having a foreigner that is a pseudo Thai (or 'Thai on technicalities' having never lived in Thailand or being able to speak Thai) representing Thailand for self enrichment purposes after never really giving a dam_n about her father's country until a few years ago.

You could also add in what would the Thai reaction be if she had won a medal ?

I think there is a technicality because she is only classified as a class B skier she cannot be in contention to win any medals. Sort of like amateur golfers that win don't get the money.

But if she went all balls out and won (instead of worrying about her looks and form) that'd qualify her to become Thailand's next PM in my book. After all, we all know now that she is Thai.

[H1w4yR1da]

I was just wondering about their sentiments of having a foreigner that is a pseudo Thai (or 'Thai on technicalities' having never lived in Thailand or being able to speak Thai) representing Thailand for self enrichment purposes after never really giving a dam_n about her father's country until a few years ago.

The same sentiments that had the Thais all agog at Tiger Woods a few years back until he told them to shove their Thainess.

Pornthip Nahirunkanok (do a search!) was equally feted until she married some old wealthy westerner.

[h90]

last finish???

She finished first in the Thai team :-)

[animatic]

She said she would enter because 'she can ski and otherwise Thailand would have no one at all in this Olympics'. Good for her, fairplay . She never expected to do well let alone win, but did want to represent her fathers country.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tx22cb]

Does anybody know how this worked? Was it sen sai that got her this spot? Was there anybody more qualified as a skier in Thailand to race? Didn't see say she's only being doing competition for a few months?

No "Connections" involved - she does not know the people nor the politics here (lucky her!). She qualified fair and square based on her performance.

No other Thai met the qualifying criteria.

She's "passionate" about, and has been, skiing for years. If you're interested, this is an interesting article which details her background.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1042593/The-heart-breaking-moment-I-realised-mother-cut-forever-violin-virtuoso-Vanessa-Mae.html

[tomyummer]

I was just wondering about their sentiments of having a foreigner that is a pseudo Thai (or 'Thai on technicalities' having never lived in Thailand or being able to speak Thai) representing Thailand for self enrichment purposes after never really giving a dam_n about her father's country until a few years ago.

The same sentiments that had the Thais all agog at Tiger Woods a few years back until he told them to shove their Thainess.

Pornthip Nahirunkanok (do a search!) was equally feted until she married some old wealthy westerner.

I see where you're trying to go with this, but Tiger Woods did admittedly denounced his Thai heritage by claiming his one citizenship (besides being an ass). And in no way can he claim to be Thai because he was caught (everyone knows what I mean).

The former Miss Thailand was marrying up with her best friend's father who happens to own slews of shopping malls and real estate in the US.

So how does this relate to Olympian Vanessa Mae?

Edited February 19, 2014 by tomyummer

[Soutpeel]

How many of you have had a go on a black diamond trail let alone a full olympic course?

Innsbruke in Austria, many moons ago....very proud of myself....multiple falls on my ar*e and a blistering time of 40 odd minutes....

but a sense of achievement ?.....you bet....

One supposes if there was were Olympic events for whinging, biggest belly, most body fat, smelliest arm pits, most alcohol consumed in 24hrs, racial profiling and bigotry.... numerous TV posters would win multiple gold me thinks ... ...some really sad basta*ds commenting