She's won 24 Paralympic medals. But Oksana Masters wants to talk about times she lost

"I might not be my best, but I will have the will to not give up and to keep fighting—for my village, for little Oksana—and do what I can do. Because that's what I've been doing my whole entire life. Masters demonstrated resilience despite acknowledging her diminished physical condition, emphasizing her lifelong commitment to perseverance and fighting through adversity."

"I found out quickly the more I pushed myself, the stronger, faster and more in control I became. This statement reflects Masters' philosophy developed through adaptive rowing, where she discovered that pushing her limits resulted in increased strength, speed, and personal control—a transformative realization after experiencing loss of control throughout her traumatic past."

"It gave her what she called a new sense of freedom and control that was taken from me so many times throughout my past. Masters' connection to adaptive rowing stemmed from its ability to restore agency and autonomy, providing psychological healing alongside physical development after years of abuse and medical trauma in Ukrainian orphanages."

Oksana Masters arrived at Milan Cortina as the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian with 19 medals from summer and winter Games combined. However, she faced significant health challenges before the opening ceremony, including a concussion, recurrent leg infection, and recent hand surgery for a torn ligament that prevented adequate training. Despite crying daily and acknowledging she wasn't performing at her best, Masters committed to competing. Born in Ukraine with radiation-caused birth defects, she was adopted at age 7 and had both legs amputated by age 14. She discovered adaptive rowing at 13, which provided freedom and control. After a back injury ended her rowing career, she transitioned to cycling, cross-country skiing, and biathlon, competing in every Summer and Winter Games since her 2012 Paralympic debut.

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