Oksana Masters’ eleventh Paralympic gold was described as “redemption” for the most successful American winter Paralympian.
It was evident just how deeply the victory resonated with her. Masters let out loud cheers several times after clinching the women’s sprint‑sitting event in para cross‑country skiing on Tuesday in Milan Cortina.
Four years earlier she had placed second in the same race.
“It felt like a huge relief and a redemption after Beijing. That one slipped away. I adore sprints and I dread them because they bring so much pressure,” Masters explained.
“I often doubt myself, and that was a major hurdle. The team trusted me, so I wanted to deliver for them,” she added.
At the start of the final climb Masters trailed leader Yunji Kim by about 40 metres (131 feet) but surged upward, overtaking her competitor as they reached the summit.
“I dislike being the pursuer. I’d rather be chased, yet I recognise I’m good at chasing and pulling athletes in one by one, staying fluid and calm,” Masters said.
The win marked Masters’ second gold at Milan Cortina, having taken the women’s sprint‑sitting title in para biathlon on Saturday. The 36‑year‑old entered the Games after a tough season that featured surgery, a bone infection and a concussion.
“I feel completely on top of the world right now, still in shock, and unbelievably happy,” she remarked.
Masters now holds seven winter Paralympic golds alongside four summer Paralympic victories. She has taken part in every Paralympic Games since 2012, earning medals in para cross‑country and para biathlon during winter editions and in para cycling and para rowing in the summer.
Her overall tally stands at 21 medals – 16 from the Winter Games and five from the Summer Games.
Born in Ukraine with congenital defects thought to stem from the Chernobyl disaster, Masters spent her early years in Ukrainian orphanages before being adopted by an American mother. She underwent amputation of her left leg at nine and her right leg at fourteen.
Read next
Stephen Bunting calls death threats and social media abuse ‘very hurtful’ as he addresses Luke Littler’s rise
Definitely," Stephen Bunting says, reflecting on whether the relentless effort required as a darts player on social media feels like a deal with the devil. Following Luke Littler, the prodigious teenage world champion, Bunting is darts' most heavily marketed figure. Yet over the past year, his success on
Bernie Ecclestone questioned after shotgun discovered on his private jet in Portugal
Bernie Ecclestone was detained in Portugal on Monday after customs authorities found an undocumented shotgun in his possession at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais. The incident was confirmed by CuriosityNews, which independently verified the matter with authorities.
The 95-year-old former Formula One chief’s private jet had just landed
49ers preseason: fake wide receivers and undercover stings make it the wildest ever?
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Australia for this week's NFL season opener in Melbourne. While the flight duration from California to Victoria is approximately 16 hours for both squads, their paths to the season's beginning have been starkly contrasting.
The