OKSANA MASTERS

Paralympic rower & nordic skier gold medalist

Born in the former Soviet Union and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Oksana Masters is one of the most decorated Paralympians across an array of sports and competitions.

As an infant, Masters suffered from a number of medical issues as a result of radiation exposure. Her shinbones weren’t able to support weight in her calves, she had webbed fingers, and she was born with six toes on both of her feet. She was raised in an orphanage until age seven when her mother Gay Masters adopted her. 

When she moved in 1997 to Buffalo, New York, where her mother worked as a professor, one of her legs was amputated. Just five years later, doctors amputated her remaining leg because of the intense pain she experienced. In 2001, she moved to Kentucky when her mother took a new professorship at the University of Louisville. 

She began rowing when she was 13. After competing seriously throughout her high school experience at Atherton High School, she began a career in professional adaptive rowing. During the 2012 London Paralympics, Masters led the United States to its first medal in rowing. After finishing third in the race and receiving a bronze medal, she stopped her career in competitive rowing because of a back injury.

Pivoting in her career as an athlete, Masters explored a winter Paralympic sport: cross-country skiing. She immediately found her groove and managed to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympics, where she surprised audiences and critics alike when she won a silver medal. Despite this success, she did not falter in her competitive drive. Just four years later at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she returned to the same competition and won a Gold medal in the 5 kilometer sitting event.

In addition to her success in these competitions, she’s also pursued competitive cycling, winning two bronze World Cup medals. She also placed 4th in hand-cycling at the 2016 Paralympic Games.