Brian Mann

She was injured in this event a couple of years ago.

That said, as she came by and talked with us, she looked incredibly upbeat, incredibly positive.

She said she was really hopeful that she was within touching distance of the leaders.

And so she's got one more event here.

The slalom, which is her big race, that's going to come on Wednesday.

This is her chance to bring home a medal of some kind for the U.S.

We'll see if that can happen.

The hometown favorite Italian athletes are having a great Olympics, led by Alpine skier Federica Brenogne.

She shattered her leg in a crash less than a year ago, but has come back to win two gold medals so far.

Then there's Norway, where cross-country skier Johannes Klebo made history over the weekend, winning his ninth career Olympic gold medal, the most of any Winter Games athlete.

The U.S.

trails those countries in the medal count after disappointing performances from some of the star U.S.

athletes.

Russia mostly sidelined this year because of strict restrictions that followed the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

And after a strong showing four years ago at the Beijing Games, China has faltered at Milan Cortina, winning only a handful of medals.

Brian Mann, NPR News, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

A growing number of U.S.

Olympians have voiced criticism in Italy about Trump's immigration crackdown.

Hess from Bend, Oregon, said in a press conference last week he has, quote, mixed emotions to represent the U.S.

right now.