Summer and Winter Paralympics Dominator- Meet Ukraine Born US Star Oksana Masters

The United States has seen its fair share of Olympic athletes. From Michael Phelps to Michael Jordan, the US is dominated by athletes who excel at their respective sports and taste unprecedented success. Similarly, there is yet another athlete who has displayed immense strength and skills over the years. That is Oksana Masters.

Oksana Masters is a Paralympic athlete from Louisville, Kentucky, of Ukrainian descent. The 32-year-old athlete is a Paralympic rower and also a cross-country skier. Oksana not only dominates the Summer Paralympics but is a reputed name at the Winter Paralympics too. What does Oksana’s journey look like and where does it start from? Let’s find out more.

Who is Oksana Masters?

It was the 2012 London Paralympics where Osaka won her very first medal, in trucks and arms mixed doubles skulls. From there on, Oksana has dominated both the Paralympics.

After her medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Masters decided to take up skiing. She qualified for the Sochi Winter Paralympics, which is commendable since she had only just taken up the sport then. There, she won a silver medal in the 12 km Nordic and a bronze medal in the 5 km Nordic.

READ MORE: Nathan Chen Reveals How Will Arnett “Inspired” Him to Win Olympic Gold Medal at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Masters sustained an injury due to which she had to give up rowing. But this also meant that she took up skiing full time and kept on getting better at it.

At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she won her first gold medal in the cross-country skiing women’s 1.5 km sprint classical event. This was after she has sustained some serious injuries just weeks before. In total, she won 5 medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics; two gold, two bronze and one silver.

In 2021, she also won the silver medal in the women’s 6 km sitting biathlon event at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships.

This isn’t all. Masters took up cycling to help her recover from her back injury. There, too, she excelled incredibly. In the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Osaka Masters won the gold medal in the timed trial and the road race.

Oksana Masters’ rowing career

It was originally the sport of rowing that brought Masters into the business. She was 13-years-old when she first began rowing. After she had her right leg amputated, Masters began adaptive rowing completely. In 2010, she set a World Record, competing at the CRASH-B sprints.

Masters teamed up with veteran Augusto Perez and formed “Team Bad Company.” It was this team that earned the United States its first-ever medal in trunk and arms mixed double sculls. Although Oksana had to give up rowing, she had dedicated herself to cross-country skiing and para-cycling.

Now, the 5-time Paralympian and 10-time Paralympic medalist will be seen at the 2022 Winter Paralympics. This is just 6 months after her successful run at the Summer Paralympics. Surely, with her experience and determination, Masters will be one to watch!

WATCH: Cats Enjoying Shaun White’s Insane Tricks; Can they Relate With Him?