He was born in Ukraine with a severe disability, possibly caused by the Chernobyl disaster, and spent the first seven years of his life in orphanages. However, physical limitations did not stop Oksana Masters from becoming a Paralympian and already has 17 medals, including seven gold, in various disciplines. CNNHe says that it was through sports that he was able to begin to love and accept himself for who he is.
When Oksana was born, she had six toes on each foot, webbed fingers and no bones in her lower limbs, which led to her lower limbs being amputated at age 14. Now 35, he represents Team USA and will compete in paracycling this year.
The athlete suffered several injuries during her athletic career, but this did not stop her from reinventing herself and competing. The athlete has medals in rowing, cross-country skiing, biathlon and cycling. “Sport taught me that it is okay to put your feet up in front of people and feel strong,” she said.
“I came to America with so many scars. I let those memories be what they were. It’s not about what we went through, it’s about what we chose to do and how we moved forward. Scars remind us of our strength,” he explained.