Rugby legend Gareth Thomas is taking part in Ironman Wales after revealing he is living with HIV.
There has been an outpouring of support for the 45-year-old, who is competing in the 140-mile triathlon today, and is the first UK sportsman to disclose he has the virus.
He spoke of his diagnosis in an interview with the Sunday Mirror – before revealing in a video on his Twitter page that he had been "forced" to make the admission.
"I've been threatened by people who said they would give away my secret. It's sick and I've been through hell," he told the paper.
"I was being blackmailed and in my mind I thought you only get blackmailed for something really bad, which compounded the feeling of shame."
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In the video he said: "I want to share my secret with you. Why? Because it's mine to tell. Not the evils threatening to tell you before I do.
"Now even though I've been forced to tell you this, I choose to fight to educate."
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Prince William is among those to offer his support, saying: "Courageous as ever – legend on the pitch and off it. You have our support Gareth. W."
Referee Nigel Owens tweeted: "Stay strong my friend and as always well done for being so brave and open to speak about these important issues that affect so many and will help even more. All my support."
Thomas told the newspaper he had been living with the diagnosis for years and felt "shame" over it. He said he was suicidal at one point.
"I had a fear people would judge me and treat me like a leper because of a lack of knowledge," he said.
"I was in a dark place, feeling suicidal. I thought about driving off a cliff."
The former Wales rugby union and league star came out as gay in 2009, becoming the first British rugby international to do so.
Describing the day he received the diagnosis, Mr Thomas said: "I'll never ever forget the moment I found out. I went for a routine sexual health test at a private clinic in Cardiff.
"I'd had the tests every now and again and they'd always come back okay. I didn't feel ill and I thought everything was going to be fine.
"The woman who did the test took blood as usual, then I went out to my car and waited for about an hour before going back in to get my results.
"When I went back in, I sat down on a chair next to a doctor's bench. She told me in a quite matter-of-fact way I had tested HIV positive."
