‘I’m Missing Some Organs’: Ukraine-Born US Paralympian Opens up on the Heartbreaking Effects of Chernobyl on Her Body

The Beijing Winter Paralympics 2022 will begin starting March 4. In that vein, Ukrainian-born Paralympic champion Oksana Masters is ready for her fifth stint at the Paralympics.

The ten-time Paralympic medalist, ahead of the 2022 Winter Paralympics, has had a troubled life. In fact, she was an orphan for the first seven years of her life. Moreover, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster had terrible side effects on her body that she manages even today.

Even though she took birth in Ukraine, Masters has represented the United States of America throughout her Paralympian career. Furthermore, she has medaled in several disciplines, not restricting herself to just one sport.

Chernobyl nuclear disaster had terrible repercussions on Oksana Masters

Oksana Masters is a decorated Paralympian for the United States of America. Not only has she won medals in cross-country skiing, but also in biathlons, para-rowing, and even para-cycling.

Sadly for Masters, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which occurred three years prior to her birth, left her with severe physical defects. The radiation from the horrific incident left Masters with several physical defects.

“I was born with six toes,” Masters shared in an interview with BBC. “I was missing the main weight-bearing bones in my legs, my knees were floating,” she described. She also shared how she took birth with webbed hands, and “five fingers, no thumbs”.

Furthermore, Oksana Masters does not have a right bicep and is “missing some organs”. “I have one kidney and don’t have any enamel on my teeth,” she revealed.

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Owing to the fact that radiation levels continued to rise in areas near Chernobyl, doctors linked Oksana’s defects to the incident. Nevertheless, Masters has not let her birth defects stop her from gaining glory at the biggest sporting stage in the world.

In fact, she has ten Paralympic medals to show for her tenacity and resilience. Now, the world will see her compete yet again at the Beijing Winter Paralympics 2022.

Oksana recalls watching the popular HBO show on the Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster is undoubtedly one of the worst tragedies in human history. Masters recalled watching ‘Chernobyl’, the HBO mini-series based on the incident.

“I knew parts of it (the series),” Oksana described. “I knew that things went on behind the scenes to cover up the magnitude of it,” she continued.

Then, she expressed sadness over how the incident “took away so many lives and homes”. “That part of the country will never be the same,” the ten-time Paralympic medalist expressed.

Surely, Oksana Masters’ story is one of tenacity and resilience. Despite facing the effects of a terrible human tragedy that affected her entire life from birth itself, she rose to the grandest sporting stage of the world.

Undoubtedly, Masters has and will continue to inspire millions across the world.

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