Oksana Masters’ eleventh Paralympic gold medal served as a powerful act of redemption for the most decorated American Winter Paralympian, highlighting her enduring passion and resilience. The 36-year-old veteran displayed palpable joy upon capturing the women’s sprint sitting discipline in Para cross-country skiing at Milan Cortina in Italy on Tuesday.
Her excitement was evident when she screamed loudly several times, acknowledging the significance of this victory after a four-year gap from Beijing 2018. Masters reminisced about her initial second-place finish and how much it had eluded her: “It was just such a relief and redemption. It was the one that got away.”
“I love sprints,” she continued, “and I hate them because there’s so much stress.” The American explained her strategy: “I struggle with believing in myself, but the team believed in me. So it was important to show up for my teammates.”
Throughout the sprint, Masters overtook rival Yunji Kim by overcoming a 40-meter deficit, a testament to her ability to power through challenging situations. She described her mindset as crucial: “I hate chasing; I would rather be chased but realize that being able to chase and reeling people in is something I do well.”
The win marked Masters’ second gold medal at Milan Cortina, following her victory in Para biathlon on Saturday. This triumph came amid a challenging season that included surgery, an infection of the bone, and a concussion. Her teammates described it as a “feeling of total relief” when they learned she had won the Paralympics.
Masters now boasts seven gold medals from Winter Games and four from Summer Games, adding to her impressive career. Competing in every Paralympic event since 2012, Masters has proven herself across Para cross-country skiing and biathlon for winter disciplines and Para cycling and rowing for summer ones. Her remarkable achievements have earned her a Laureus World sportsperson of the year with a disability award in 2020 and nominations for best athlete at the ESPYs.
Born to a single mother in Ukraine, Oksana Masters was adopted by Gay Masters, a professor at the University of Louisville. She had both her legs amputated: the left leg when she was nine years old, and the right leg when she turned fourteen. Her journey through orphanages in Ukraine underpinned her early life before being brought up as a single parent.
As Oksana Masters’ story continues to unfold, her legacy of triumph over adversity inspires many to persevere and believe in their abilities.