Oksana Masters Breaks Records with Winter Paralympics 2022 Medals

Masters now holds 14 Paralympic medals, more than any other U.S. athlete in history.

The 2022 Beijing Paralympics witnessed Oksana Masters etching her name in the annals of U.S. history by bagging the highest number of medals ever won in a single Winter Games. The tally of her medals, a remarkable fourteen, outshone every other U.S. athlete's record. Her staggering feats included a podium finish in all seven events she participated in.

On the final competition day, Masters clinched gold in the mixed-gender cross-country skiing relay, teaming up with Sydney Peterson, Dan Cnossen, and Jake Adicoff. This news was brought to light by NBC News. She had kickstarted the Games on an equally high note by securing gold in the women's biathlon and followed it up with a silver in the para cross-country skiing long distance the very next day.

Cnossen expressed his joy and pride in being part of such an accomplished team. He stated that knowing the reliance of your teammates on you added a unique charm to victory. Masters' medal count surpassed Cnossen’s record of six from PyeongChang 2018, thus setting a new benchmark for medals won by a United States team athlete at a single Games.

Masters took to Instagram to convey her jubilation. According to her, certain emotions can't be articulated. While sharing her gold medal picture from the women's biathlon, she talked about her pride in representing two nations. She dedicated her win to her native country, Ukraine, specifically the differently-abled young inhabitants. Masters further committed to donating her Paralympics prize money to Global Giving No Child Forgotten and Bright Kids Charity, both of which aid physically disabled children in Ukraine.

Before the commencement of the Games, Masters revealed via an Instagram post dated March 4th that she was grappling with finding her "passion" and "desire". The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia added to her turmoil. However, she discovered a greater purpose and a solid reason to compete. She stated, "I will be competing for more than just personal achievements or a position on the podium." Each stroke she made in the race, she dedicated to the families and children with disabilities in Ukraine.