NBC’s Christin Cooper criticized for pushing 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic bronze medalist Bodde Miller too far with questions about dead brother Chelone

After tying for third place in the men's super-G at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, United States skier Bode Miller was interviewed by NBC correspondent and former Olympian Christin Cooper. The interview became quite emotional after Cooper asked Miller about his younger brother, Chelone, who had died last year. Many are criticizing Cooper for pushing Miller too hard, and NBC has been getting a lot of negative press thanks to this interview.

"I know you wanted to be here with Chelly experiencing these games; how much does it mean to you to come up with a great performance for him? And was it for him?" Cooper asked.

At this, Miller held back tears, letting a few trickle down his face. Eventually, the crying Olympian was comforted by the correspondent, but the camera lingered on the scene for over a minute causing many to wonder if this was too much from the network.

"Our intent was to convey the emotion that Bode Miller was feeling after winning his bronze medal," a spokesman for NBC said. "We understand how some viewers thought the line of questioning went too far, but it was our judgment that his answers were a necessary part of the story. We're gratified that Bode has been publicly supportive of Christin Cooper and the overall interview."

Meanwhile, Miller also came to the defense of Cooper, saying he did not believe she had any intentions to force this reaction from him.

"I've known Christin a long time and she is a sweetheart of a person," Miller said. "I know she didn't mean to push. I don't think she really anticipated what my reaction was going to be and I think by the time she sort of realized it, I think it was too late and I don't really, I don't blame her at all.

"I feel terrible that she is taking the heat for that because it really is just a heat of the moment kind of circumstance, and I don't think there was any harm intended. So, it was just a lot of emotion for me, it's been a lot over the last year and that you sometimes don't realize how much you contain that stuff until the dam breaks and then it's just a real outpouring."