Ukraine-born Oksana Masters wins USA’s first gold of 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics
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Oksana Masters
Biathlete Oksana Masters started her Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games campaign on a high with victory in the women’s sitting sprint event. The Ukraine-born immediately dedicated her success to the people of her native country and Team USA.
Masters, who finished the 6km course in 20min 51.2sec with a 100% accuracy in two prone shootings, shared the podium with compatriot Kendall Gretsch (bronze), and China’s Yilin Shan won silver for the host country.
“I owe a lot to my mom and then it is for Team Ukraine and Ukrainian people,” Masters said on registering history against her name on Saturday. “It is as much for Team USA as it is for Ukraine. I’m so proud to be Ukrainian, to be American and represent both and that’s the power of sports that you can represent so much more than just one thing.”
“Never thought I will ever achieve this”
Notably, Oksana already had two Paralympic gold medals against her name in the 1.5km sprint classic sitting and 5 km sitting events, which came at Pyeongchang 2018. While talking about her latest success, the 32-year-old stated that she never thought of winning a medal in this disciple at the Games.
“My first biathlon gold medal and I never thought I would ever, ever achieve this and hence it is so special,” she said. “This was my third time around, I played in Sochi and I played PyeongChang and to finally get it in Beijing was special. To share that podium, I think from day one is great, incredible things are coming for [Team USA].
“It is sad and my heart goes out for the Russian and Belarusian athletes,” Masters said. “Honestly, I was at the dining hall and one of them came and hugged me and was crying because they wanted to compete.
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Sachin Arora
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