BOBSLEIGH: Jana Pittman is no stranger to rooms full of people asking her difficult questions. But when those rooms are full of primary school kids – nothing is off limits!

Pittman took part in the AOC’s Chat to a Champ program today, chatting online with students from two primary schools across Australia. The session was the first of three chats – with follow up sessions to take place in term 4 this year and the live from then Village at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

The lucky kids who got to spend their afternoon with the two-time Olympic hurdler, were from Rockhampton Girls Grammar School in Queensland, and Newington Public School in NSW.

Pittman answered questions about her new-found sport of bobsleigh and the journey she is on to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

When asked about her motivation, Pittman spoke of hard work, health and medals.

“I love to stay fit and healthy,” she said. “I also love to work really hard for something and know at the end that it’s all been worth it...I haven’t won an Olympics yet so I want to have a couple more tries.”

Pittman took up bobsleigh two years ago and is pushing for two-time Olympian Astrid Radjenovic (Loch-Wilkinson). Having come from the sport of athletics, and competing at two summer Games – the students were interested in Pittman’s switch to winter sport and how she is coping with the cold.

“I definitely like the small size of the Winter Olympic Team,” she said. “I’m getting to know lots of athletes from the other sports which is really nice. But I would prefer to not have to wear so many layers of clothes to keep warm!”

Pittman is enjoying fast success in the sport of bobsleigh but she knows all too well about the highs and lows of elite sports. When asked how she deals with emotions and if she has experienced ups and downs in her career, Pittman was frank but positive in her response.

“I certainly have [had ups and downs]! In 2003 and 2007 I was World Champion and usually you then go on to win Olympic gold, but both times I got injured.

“You have to keep getting back up and trying again. I’m still going. It’s a matter of dealing with it and having other important things in your life – which is why I have my great family and have gone back to school.”

It would be impossible to be an Australian bobsledder and not be likened to the famous Jamaican team, and sure enough a curly question came Pittman’s way:

“In the movie Cool Runnings, the Jamaican bobsled team had a lucky egg. Will you be kissing a lucky egg or will you have a different lucky charm?”

And in response:

“I used to wear lucky underpants – but I definitely wouldn’t kiss those! You’ll have to come up with a good luck charm for me.”

To watch the chat - check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPyfpax8MI&noredirect=1

The next Chat to a Champ session will take place on Tuesday 13 August at 10am with freestyle skier Anna Segal. Tune in here: http://sochi2014.olympics.com.au/more/education/chat-to-a-champ