Oksana Masters is a name that has made headlines time and time again. And how would it not? She has been on the Paralympic podium 17 times for Team USA. Oksana’s story isn’t one of medals but of resilience and talent. From her early days spent at the Ukrainian orphanage to now looking to win again at her seventh Paralympics in Paris 2024, her story is marked by an unrelenting spirit.

That’s not all; she is no ordinary Paralympian! Oksana has won across para-rowing, cycling, and Nordic skiing. In para-cycling alone, she has dominated the World Championships, claiming multiple titles and setting records in her category. Oksana is no doubt a woman of many wonders. But winning across three sports comes with baggage and expectations of its own.

Oksana’s journey of overcoming odds

Oksana Master’s journey is the epitome of perseverance. Oksana was born with disabilities caused by the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. She spent most of her early years in an orphanage in Ukraine. It was at the age of eight that her new family adopted her and brought her to the United States. “There are really three times I say my life was saved,” she shares. “My mom saved my life, literally, from Ukraine because they told her I wasn’t supposed to live past 10 years old.”

But it didn’t end there. “She saved it again by introducing the world of sports to me. And sport was really that third thing that really saved my life, because that’s really where I started to learn the journey and on that path of loving myself, accepting myself.” Oksana always wanted to do sports, but her path wasn’t always clear. She often questioned herself. “I had no idea I could be an athlete. I had no idea I could be a Paralympian because that was just not visible to me or ever talked about. And also I’m missing my legs. How on earth can I be an athlete?”

When Oksana turned 13, she had to have her second leg amputated. This is when her mother encouraged her to try para-rowing. “I have never felt more at home than on that water. That was my step one to really healing and learning myself,” she said. She found her therapy in sports. “I learned to love it that way first versus winning and setting goals… because I never saw myself as that. I didn’t know it was possible to do that, especially for me.” Fast forward to today. She is a Paralympic champion with seven golds, seven silvers, and three bronzes across three sports!

What’s brewing in Oksana’s 2024 Paralympic pot?

With Paralympics 2024 right around the corner, Oksana Masters is set to create history yet again in para-cycling. She will be competing in the H5 hand-cycling category. The event will take place in France, adding another layer of thrill to Oksana’s sport. “In France, [cycling] is such a huge sport. It is a way of life for them, and honestly, it’s one of those things I’m really excited about. Competing on my bike in a country that respects and knows bike racing, and just to feel the streets filled and just being in Paris,” she added.

Despite the ups and downs of Oksana’s journey, she doesn’t enjoy paralleling her wins to challenges! As she herself puts it, “Probably the most frustrating thing for me is when people compare me to what I’ve done and what I’ve been able to overcome.” But with the Paris Paralympics coming up, the spotlight is of course on Oksana. And she isn’t shy to say, “The hardest thing leading into Paris is living up to people’s expectations.” She went on to add, “What’s hard is living up to the expectations of being at the bottom [yet] coming out better than anyone expected. And in Paris, that’s why all this pressure is put on.”

But Oksana is no stranger to the weight of expectation! She has faced it before. With just 100 days until Tokyo 2020, she underwent surgery to remove a tumor and endured a bone graft. But despite this, she ended up winning two gold medals in para-cycling. As Oksana prepares for Paris, it’s not just about the race. It’s about proving once again that limits are only as real as we allow them to be!

Oksana went on to say, “Just live in the moment and see each day and take the things that went well, focus on the things you want to improve and do not limit yourself and never count yourself out. You can achieve what you’re chasing and what you’re dreaming and the goals you’re setting for yourself. There’s no perfect timeline.” And one thing Oksana Masters proves better than anyone is that she doesn’t follow anyone else’s story—she writes her own.

Before you leave, check out the latest Think Tank episode on EssentiallySports. Madisen Skinner’s coach, a renowned name in American volleyball, gives a behind-the-scenes look at his star player.