Team USA star Oksana Masters opened the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in remarkable fashion, capturing gold in the Para biathlon women's sitting sprint and securing the 20th Paralympic medal of her extraordinary career.
Competing at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on March 7, Masters delivered a dominant performance, finishing with a time of 21:21.3. She also achieved a perfect shooting record, hitting all 10 targets, which helped her pull ahead of the field.
Fellow American Kendall Gretsch finished second with a time of 21:37.3, earning the silver medal and giving Team USA a strong start to the Games with a one-two finish. Germany's Anja Wicker claimed the bronze medal in the event.
With the victory, Masters notched her 10th Paralympic gold medal and further extended her legacy as the most decorated Winter Paralympian in United States history.
Yet the achievement came after a difficult lead-up to the Games. The 36-year-old athlete revealed that she faced several serious health setbacks during her preparation, including surgery over the summer, along with a recent infection and concussion that limited her training time.
"Oh my gosh, my emotions are just pure shock," Masters said after the race. "I did not expect this. I was just hoping to have a good time in the shooting range. I didn't expect a podium finish, let alone a gold."
Those challenges made the victory even more meaningful for Masters, who has built her career on perseverance.
Born in Ukraine with birth defects believed to be linked to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Masters spent more than seven years in orphanages before being adopted by an American mother. During her childhood, she underwent numerous surgeries and eventually had both of her legs amputated.
Despite those hardships, she went on to become one of the most versatile Paralympians in history, competing in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Masters has earned medals across multiple sports, including Para rowing, Para cycling, Para cross-country skiing, and Para biathlon.
Her latest gold medal in Italy brings her overall Paralympic tally to 20 medals, including 15 Winter Paralympic medals and five Summer Paralympic medals since her debut in 2012.
Masters has often spoken about the deeper purpose behind her journey as an athlete. In a past social media post, she identified herself as both an American and a Christian, sharing her belief in a "God of love." That faith, she has suggested, helps guide her through moments of hardship and competition.
"For me, I have a very strong 'why,'" Masters once explained. "Every stroke counts for every athlete with a disability who was told they were never going to be enough."
Her teammate Kendall Gretsch also celebrated the shared podium moment, noting how training alongside Masters has helped push her to improve.
"It's always exciting to be on the podium with your teammate," Gretsch said. "Every race with Oksana makes me a better athlete."
The Para biathlon competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games continues through March 9, with several additional medal events scheduled in Val di Fiemme.
For Masters, the opening-day gold not only adds another milestone to her historic career but also serves as a powerful reminder of what resilience, determination, and hope can achieve.
