BOBSLEIGH: Fifteen years ago Jana Pittman and Astrid Radjenovic trained together as 400 metre hurdlers. Now they will take on the world in Bobsleigh at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games. 

Landing in Sochi late Monday night (local time), the women will compete in the 2-man event. 

Making history as the first Australian female athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Pittman said her sporting comeback was thanks to Radjenovic. 

“I thought my career in sport in general was over so I was so grateful to Astrid for sort of putting the phone call to me and asking if I would join her in the team,” the 31-year-old said. 

With a new bobsled, the pair are aiming for a top 10 finish in Sochi. 

“I think our best result has been 12th so we’re just hoping to better than that and finish with a season best,” Radjenovic said. 

The Australian Team pilot at Torino and Vancouver Winter Olympian, Radjenovic said the pair’s running training had come in handy. 

“We both did 400 hurdles 15 years ago and I’d say bobsleigh definitely makes us faster than as a 400 runner,” the 31-year-old said. 

“Fifteen years ago we used to do the same event under the same coach (Jackie Byrnes) so it’s quite fun to think that 15 years later we are at the Winter Olympics together.” 

The pair were regularly on the podium at national athletics events but it was Pittman who was the track sensation. 

As a 17-year-old she was selected for the Sydney Olympic Games and raced the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay heats. Four years later as the current 400m hurdles World Champion she placed 5^th at Athens after knee surgery only weeks before the Games. 

Pittman defend her Commonwealth title in 2006, won a second world title in 2007, just months after having a baby boy but injuries stopped her Beijing 2008 and London 2012 summer Olympic campaigns. 

“Both of us, this is our third Olympics. So we are very lucky that we’ve had a lot of experience with what a big sort of environment it is. I don’t know anything about the Winter Olympics so I’ll have to look to my teammate on that,” she said. 

“Ultimately she’s the pilot and I just go for a ride on the back.” 

Asked about the increased media attention on Bobsleigh after pairing with Pittman, Radjenovic said the publicity was good for the sport. 

“It’s brought more attention to the sport and I’m not too fussed about that. I just do the sport because I love it, but it is good to help Bobsleigh grow. To have it in the spotlight and maybe have a little bit more attention is good,” she said. 

Pittman said she’s just thankful for the chance to compete on the world stage again. 

“I guess I’m very lucky to have the opportunity and given a new lease on life,” she said. 

“I think now you really stop and smell the roses. I’m a bit older and I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career but to know that I also get a second chance now it really quite amazing.” 

Radjenovic is not only competing with her training partner from her teenage years, her husband Vuk from Serbia is competing in the 2-man bobsleigh at this his third Olympics.