TOKYO — Juri Takayama hopes to trade her fastball for the fast track of bobsled and become the fifth Japanese athlete to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Takayama, who was a pitcher for Japan's softball team, became a national bobsled team candidate earlier this month and is hoping to earn a place in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

"I want to compete again on the world stage," the 32-year-old Takayama said at a press conference Thursday. "I haven't been chosen as a member of the team yet but will do my best."

Takayama was the ace of the Japanese softball team that won silver in Sydney and bronze in Athens. While she has yet to retire from softball, the sport has been dropped from the Olympic program for the 2012 London Games.

Takayama said she began preparing for the transition to bobsled by watching the movie "Cool Runnings," which is based on the Jamaica national team's debut at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Recruited by Japan's bobsled and luge federation, Takayama is hoping to become a pusher in the two-crew event. If she makes the team, Takayama would join four other Japanese athletes who have taken part in both the Winter and Summer Games.

Sayuri Osuga, Seiko Hashimoto and Natsue Seki all took part in speed skating and cycling, while Shinji Aoto participated in track and bobsled and is the only Japanese male athlete to take part both the Winter and Summer Games.