Ukrainian-Born Paralympian Oksana Masters Excels in Rare Dual-Season Competition

Oksana Masters, the most decorated American Winter Paralympian, belongs to an elite group of athletes who compete in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, according to the International Paralympic Committee.

Masters, a double leg amputee, has competed in every Paralympics since 2012, earning medals in Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon during winter competitions and Para cycling and Para rowing in summer events, according to The Associated Press.

The 36-year-old athlete has accumulated 14 medals in Winter Games, including five gold medals, and five medals in Summer Games, with four gold medals. Masters made history at Beijing 2022 by becoming the first American to win seven medals in seven events at a single Paralympics.

Only about 120 athletes have participated in both Summer and Winter Paralympics over the past two decades, according to the International Paralympic Committee.

Masters was born in Ukraine with birth defects believed to be related to the Chernobyl nuclear accident. She spent her early years in Ukrainian orphanages before being adopted by an American father. Doctors amputated her left leg at age 9 and her right leg at age 14.

The athlete began her Paralympic career in Para rowing at London 2012, then transitioned to Nordic Para skiing at Sochi 2014. Two years later, she added Para cycling to her repertoire at Rio 2016.

“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.

The physical demands of switching between sports create unique challenges for dual-season athletes. “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.

Masters described the transition between seasons as disorienting. “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,” she said.

The financial burden of competing in multiple sports presents another significant obstacle. Custom equipment costs create substantial expenses, according to Masters. Hand cycles range from 20,000 to 50,000 euros ($23,600 to $59,000), while sit-skis for Para cross-country skiing cost between 8,000 to 30,000 euros ($9,400 to $35,400).

“It is very challenging honestly to financially support my journey to both Summer and Winter Games because instead of four years to break things up, it is every two years,” Masters said.

Despite current sponsorship support, Masters began her Paralympic journey under difficult circumstances. “I started chasing these dreams living out of my car,” she said.

The financial challenges persist even at the elite level. “Unfortunately, I’m still paying out of my own pocket and funding my own way to compete in both Summer and Winter Games because there still is a little bit of a discrepancy between Paralympic athletes and Olympic athletes, and right now both sports are very expensive,” Masters said.

Other notable dual-season Paralympic athletes include Heinz Frei, a Swiss wheelchair racer who competed from the 1984 Winter Paralympics through Tokyo 2020. Frei, who became paraplegic after a 1978 accident, won more than 30 medals across all editions, including 15 gold medals, according to Paralympic records.

German athlete Reinhild Möller also achieved success across seasons, winning more than 20 medals while competing in Para athletics and Para alpine skiing.

Masters continues to pursue excellence across both seasons as she enters her eighth Paralympic competition, demonstrating the dedication required to master multiple Paralympic disciplines.