United States skier Bode Miller has defended an American television reporter who reduced him to tears.

The 36-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the men's super-G event on Sunday, was asked a question about his late brother by NBC's Christin Cooper.

Miller was left visibly upset, but says that he does not blame the reporter.

"I know she didn't mean to push," the American is quoted as saying by the Hollywood Reporter. "I don't think she really anticipated what my reaction was going to be, and I think by the time she realised it, it was too late. I don't blame her at all.

"I feel terrible that she's taking the heat for that because it really was just a heat-of-the-moment kind of circumstance. I don't think there was any harm intended. It was just a lot of emotion for me.

"It's been a lot over the past year. You sometimes don't realise how much you can contain that stuff until the dam breaks, and then it's just a real outpouring."

The Team USA competitor has now won six medals at the Winter Olympics.