> At a Glance
> – Paralympic great Oksana Masters saves every last lap for her adoptive mom, Gay
> – The 36-year-old has 19 medals–nine gold-across seven Paralympic appearances
> – After three hand surgeries and a leg infection scare, she preps for March’s World Championships in Italy
> – Why it matters: Her story shows how one parent’s sacrifice can propel an athlete from Ukrainian orphanage to U.S. Winter Games history
Every race Oksana Masters enters ends the same way: a silent tribute to the woman who believed when she couldn’t. That ritual carries extra weight as the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian eyes an eighth straight Games.
The Promise Behind Every Finish
Masters tells News Of Los Angeles she pictures Gay Masters’ face the moment she starts her final lap. The American professor drained her retirement fund to adopt the Chernobyl-affected child at age seven and bankroll a sporting dream neither knew would reach this height.
> “She took out of her retirement to help me chase this dream… That’s why it’s so important for me to see her face at the finish line.”
A Resume That Defies Limits
| Games | Sport | Medal Haul |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 London | Rowing | Bronze |
| 3 Winter Games | XC Ski/Biathlon | 14 medals (7 gold) |
| 2022 Beijing | XC Ski/Biathlon | 7 medals in one Games |
Born with radiation-linked limb differences and later losing both legs, Masters pivoted from rowing to snow. The switch produced nine golds, seven silvers, three bronze-the most by any U.S. Winter Paralympian.
Setbacks That Nearly Stopped Her
- July packing accident tore a ligament in her trigger finger
- Multiple reconstructive surgeries on both hands
- Winter leg infection required emergency flights to Utah
- Doctors warned further amputation was possible
Between hospital stays, Masters questioned whether Beijing 2022 had been her summit. Gay countered with the phrase that rebuilt her confidence: “This is just day one.”
March Mission in the Italian Alps
In Tesero, north of Milan, Masters will defend world titles in cross-country skiing and biathlon. Five months post-surgery, she calls herself ready to pack bags and podiums again.
Key Takeaways
- 36-year-old Masters targets her eighth consecutive Paralympic cycle
- She credits her Ukrainian resilience and her mom’s relentless support for every comeback
- Each podium finish is a shared trophy for the retirement savings that funded early training
When the start gun fires this March, the final lap will, as always, belong to the woman who first met her at an airport gate after a two-year adoption fight.
Olivia M. Hartwell for News Of Los Angeles
