Oksana Masters Celebrates a Heartfelt Victory with Her 11th Gold Medal at Milan Cortina Paralympics
Oksana Masters secured her 11th Paralympic gold medal, marking a significant moment in her career as the most decorated American Winter Paralympian. The victory, achieved in the women’s sprint sitting discipline of para cross-country skiing, was met with an outpouring of emotion from Masters, who celebrated with jubilant shouts after crossing the finish line in Milan Cortina.
Having finished second in this event four years ago, Masters expressed her relief at taking gold this time. “It was just such a relief and redemption from Beijing. It was the one that got away,” she said. “I love sprints and I hate sprints because there’s so much stress.”
Throughout the race, Masters found herself 40 meters behind the leader, Yunji Kim, as they approached the final incline. However, she managed to gain ground, ultimately overtaking Kim as they reached the top. “I hate chasing. I would rather be chased, but I do realize that I do well with chasing and reeling people in, one by one, staying smooth and relaxed,” she added.
This victory marks Masters’ second gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games; she previously won in the women’s sprint sitting discipline in para biathlon. The 36-year-old athlete faced a challenging season leading up to the Games, which included surgery, a bone infection, and a concussion. “I feel absolutely on top of the world right now, just in complete shock, and so, so happy,” she remarked after her win.
With her latest triumph, Masters has now amassed seven Winter Paralympic gold medals alongside four victories at the Summer Paralympics. She has participated in every Paralympic event since 2012, earning a total of 21 medals—16 from the Winter Games and five from the Summer Games.
Born in Ukraine with birth defects linked to the Chernobyl disaster, Masters experienced early hardship in orphanages before being adopted by an American mother. She underwent amputation of her left leg at age 9 and her right leg at age 14, demonstrating resilience and determination throughout her journey as an elite athlete.
