An American skier, who suffered birth defects due to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, has won the gold medal in the Winter Paralympics. Oksana Masters's story is certainly an example of ‘Ability beyond Disability’. The Paralympian said she was “on cloud nine” after the win, Hindustan Times reported.
That feeling when your dream finally comes true, you realize miracles do happen and you’re bringing home #TeamUSA a 🥇 at the #paralympics #ParaNoridc #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/chTM7DPq07
— Oksana Masters (@OksanaMasters) March 14, 2018
There's no stopping #USA today ?
— Para Nordic Skiing (@ParaNordic) March 14, 2018
Oksana Masters secures #Gold in #Paracrosscountry and boy does she enjoy it! #PyeongChang2018 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/P2yFK5aenw
Born in Ukraine in 1989, Masters suffered life-long impairment due to the disintegration of a reactor explosion at the Chernobyl plant in erstwhile Soviet Union. It was a safety test that went wrong, causing a huge explosion that sent clouds of radioactive materials floating over Europe.
.@OksanaMasters HAS DONE IT! She is taking home #GOLD in the women's #CrossCountrySkiing 1.1km sprint! ? pic.twitter.com/zQZrXgUgT0
— U.S. Paralympics (@USParalympics) March 14, 2018
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Masters was born with six toes on each foot, five webbed fingers on each hand and no thumb. Her left leg was six inches shorter than her right. When her own family abandoned her, she spent her childhood days in three different orphanages until the age of seven. Later, she was adopted by an American woman and shipped off to the United States.
Due to Masters' birth defects, doctors decided to amputate both her legs. She also had had multiple rounds of reconstructive surgery done on her hands
But defying all odds and smiling right back at her disabilities, Masters decided not to be caged in the impaired body. Passionate about sports, she chose skiing as her main area of expertise. The Paralympian also excels in rowing, biathlon and cycling.
You focus on the finish line. We’ll be cheering you the whole time.
— Visa (@Visa) March 10, 2018
We are proud to support #TeamVisa athlete @OksanaMasters, who has been defying all odds since birth to become a multi-sport and now four-time Paralympic medalist, at the Winter #Paralympics! pic.twitter.com/ksumUKfHBs
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“I am so happy I have been able to channel all the things that I went through when I was younger and make them into something positive,” she said.
The champion won her first Paralympic gold in the 1.1km cross-country sprint skiing at the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics
“I feel like I’m cloud nine right now, I’ve been chasing this gold medal for such a long time,” said the 28-year-old. “This is the most amazing medal of my career.”
Athletes with leg impairments compete in specially adapted sledges in Paralympic skiing events.
Brb. Will resume tweeting after we stop crying... ? ?
— U.S. Paralympics (@USParalympics) March 14, 2018
Congrats, @OksanaMasters! pic.twitter.com/2Xs3rztFTT
Masters has given a stellar performance at the Pyeongchang Paralympics. Besides the gold, she has also won a silver in biathlon and a bronze in long-distance cross-country skiing. She had also won silver and bronze medals at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics, and a bronze in rowing at the London 2012 Summer Paralympics.
AND @OksanaMasters follows for #silver! #TeamUSA goes 1-2 at the 2018 #WinterParalympics! ? pic.twitter.com/cmQLkdWl4f
— U.S. Paralympics (@USParalympics) March 10, 2018
.@OksanaMasters skis into #BRONZE in the 12K race for her second #Paralympics medal! ?? pic.twitter.com/dLkvFBLS4D
— U.S. Paralympics (@USParalympics) March 11, 2018
The grit and determination finally paid off. We salute Oksana’s zest for her loved sport and wish her all the best. Way to go!
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Feature Image Credit: Hindustan Times