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Oksana Masters led a United States one-two finish in the women’s 7.5km sitting sprint on Saturday, winning gold to deliver the United States’ first medals of the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. Masters crossed the line in 21:21.3 at Val di Fiemme, coming in 16 seconds ahead of teammate Kendall Gretsch, who took silver.
Both Americans shot a perfect 10-for-10 on the range, leaving the race to be decided on the snow. Masters proved fastest over the course, pulling away from Gretsch on the final lap to secure the 10th Paralympic gold medal of her career. Germany’s Anja Wicker claimed bronze.
The victory was the 20th Paralympic medal overall for Masters, already the most decorated winter athlete in US Paralympic history. The 36-year-old has previously won titles in Para cross-country skiing and Para-cycling in addition to biathlon.
Masters said sharing the podium with Gretsch made the moment even more meaningful. “It’s incredible to have one and two for the USA,” she said. “Not just one and two USA, but with your friend who is also a great competitor. She pushes me on the range and we push each other on the course.”
The gold came after a difficult buildup to the Games for Masters, who said she dealt with surgery during the summer and health setbacks in recent weeks, including an infection and a concussion that limited her training.
According to NBC research, Masters becomes the sixth American to win 20 or more medals at the Winter and Summer Paralympics, joining Trischa Zorn (55), Jessica Long (31), Tatyana McFadden (22), Sharon Myers (21) and Bart Dodson (20).
Para biathlon competition continues Sunday in Val di Fiemme with the individual events as athletes contest additional medals across the sitting, standing and visually impaired classifications.
Masters, who is a double leg amputee, has competed in every Paralympics since 2012, earning medals in Para cross-country and Para biathlon in the winter and Para cycling and Para rowing in the summer.
“Trying to peak both in the summer and winter in one year is the hardest thing to try and perfect. In addition to being at a higher risk of overuse injury since there’s no true offseason,” Masters told the Associated Press in the run-up to Milano Cortina. “Mentally it is absolutely challenging and physically, especially in the first few months of transitioning back where I can go from what was a great peak season for me and skiing and when I transitioned to cycling in the summer, it is completely different muscle groups, complete different engine, completely different way of propelling my body forward.”
Masters said it’s “hard not to panic as it truly feels like you’re starting a sport for the first time even though you’re coming off of a strong season and being fit for something completely different”.
“It is truly rebuilding your body every six months or so,” Masters said. “That is also probably something that is challenging, but keeps me hungry and constantly learning new things of what I’m capable of achieving in my approach to sports.”
Masters is competing in her eighth Paralympics and has now won 15 medals in the Winter Games (six gold) and five medals in the Summer Games (four gold). She became the first American to win seven medals – in seven events – at a single Paralympics in Beijing 2022.
She was born in Ukraine with birth defects believed to be related to the Chernobyl nuclear accident. She had to go through orphanages at an early age in Ukraine before being adopted by an American father. She had her left leg amputated at age 9, and her right leg amputated at age 14.
Masters began her Paralympic career in Para rowing in London 2012, and two years later transitioned to the snow to compete in Nordic Para skiing at Sochi 2014. Two years later she also competed in Para cycling at Rio 2016.
