Oksana Masters - Winter Paralympic
Ms. Masters is a 6-time member of the U.S. Paralympic Team in Rowing & Cycling (hand), Nordic Cross Country Skiing & Biathlon having competed at Beijing 2022, Tokyo 2020ne, PyeongChang 2018, Rio 2016, Sochi 2014 & London 2012.
Oksana was born in Ukraine and adopted by Gay Masters at the age of 8 and brought to the United States (Buffalo). She was raised in Gay’s hometown in Louisville, KY. Through her mom’s introduction to adaptive sport while she was in high school, Oksana tried and fell in love with rowing and went on to qualify a few years later for mixed sculls and competed at London 2012.
During her international career representing Team USA, she has won Paralympic Gold, Silver and Bronze in Nordic Cross Country, Silver and Bronze in Biathlon, Gold in Cycling and Bronze in Rowing (mixed sculls). At Beijing 2022, Oksana established a new American record for Winter Paralympic and Winter Olympic Games for the most Medals won with 14 (5 Gold, 7 Silver & 2 Bronze). Her 14 Winter Paralympic medals tied for 8th globally.
She additionally has won 11 World Para Nordic World Championships, 3 World Para Nordic Silver and 4 World Para Nordic Bronze medals (Cross Country & Biathlon) and 2 UCI Para Road World Championships, 2 UCI Para Road World Silver and a UCI Para Road World Bronze medal in Cycling.
Also on her resume is 4 Overall World Cup Championships in Nordic Cross Country (2019, 2017, 2016, 2015) and has not lost a Nordic Cross Country race in 3 years. In Biathlon, she has finished in the top 3 Overall in 2018, 2019 & 2020. Through the 2020 Para Nordic Cross Country and Biathlon seasons she has won 62 Overall Medals (44 Gold, 11 Silver & 7 Bronze).
In February of 2023, she will release her first book, THE HARD PARTS: A memoir of courage and triumph by Scribner.
At the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, Oksana was nominated by her teammates and carried the U.S. flag at Closing Ceremonies.
Oksana has earned the following accolades since 2014:
2022
Women’s Sports Foundation - Individual Sportswoman of the Year nominee
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete - She is the first Paralympic nominee to ever be in this category (male or female)
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Olympian - She is the first Paralympic nominee to ever be in this category
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with Disability nominee - 8th consecutive nomination
ESPYS note: Tied with Steph Curry for the most nominations in 2022
Sports Emmys - Outstanding Long Feature - Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel nominee: Oksana: The Remarkable Story of Paralympic Superstar Oksana Masters
2021
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with Disability nominee (7th nomination in 7 years - category not presented in 2020)
2020
Laureus World Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability - (Best Male or Female Athlete with a Disability)
2019
Team USA Awards - Best Female Athlete of the Year with a Disability
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with Disability nominee (6th nomination in 6 years)
Laureus World Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year nominee - (Best Male or Female Athlete with a Disability)
Americas Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Year nominee (10 male and female athletes in the hemisphere)
February - Team USA Awards - Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month
February - Americas Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Month nominee
January - Team USA Awards - Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
2018
Women’s Sports Foundation - Individual Sportswoman of the Year (she was the first Winter Paralympian to win and the second Paralympian all-time)
Team USA Awards - Best Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year nominee (5th nomination in 5 years); She won in 2018 Best Female Paralympic Athlete of the Winter Paralympic Games for the first time
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with a Disability nominee (5th nomination in 5 years)
Laureus World Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year nominee - (Best Male or Female Athlete with a Disability)
March - Allianz Paralympic Female of the Winter Games nominee
January - Allianz Paralympic Athlete of the Month
2017
Team USA Awards - Best Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year nominee (3rd nomination in 4 years)
ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with a Disability nominee (4th consecutive year)
FasterSkier Female Para-Nordic Skier of the Year (North America)
March - Team USA Awards Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
February - Allianz Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
February - Americas Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
February - Team USA Awards Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
2016
• December - Allianz Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
• December - Team USA Awards Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
• U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association Adaptive Athlete of the Year Award
• FasterSkier Female Para-Nordic Skier of the Year (North America)
• ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with a Disability nominee
• March - Allianz Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
• March - Team USA Awards Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month nominee
2015
• Team USA Awards - Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year nominee
• ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with a Disability nominee
• FasterSkier Female Para-Nordic Skier of the Year (North America)
• March - Team USA Awards Female Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month
2014
• Best of Team U.S. Awards Show - Best Female Paralympian nominee
• Best of Team U.S. Awards Show - Best Moment of the Paralympic Games nominee
• ESPYS Awards - Best Female Athlete with a Disability nominee