Oksana Masters cements legacy as most decorated US Winter Paralympian

Competing in her eighth Paralympic Games, American athlete Oksana Masters reached an extraordinary milestone at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. On 7 March 2026 she defended her title in the women's sprint sitting Para biathlon event, claiming her 20th career Paralympic medal. Standing on the podium, she described the moment as surreal. "It was a shocker that it's 20 medals, it just feels so surreal," she said. "Every single medal is just as important because it has a different journey."

Masters did not stop there. Over the course of the Games she added several more golds across Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing, along with a bronze in the 20km Para cross-country event, bringing her career total to 24 Paralympic medals across both Summer and Winter Games. Of those, 14 are gold. The tally makes her the most decorated US Winter Paralympian in history and one of the most accomplished Paralympians the country has ever produced.

Her path to the podium has been anything but ordinary. Born in Ukraine and adopted as a child, Masters has spoken openly about how sport became a tool for healing and resilience after a difficult start in life. She has competed at the elite level in rowing, cycling, biathlon and cross-country skiing, adapting and excelling across disciplines that demand vastly different skills.

Beyond the medals, Masters has used her platform to inspire children who have experienced life-changing injuries, encouraging them to see possibility rather than limitation. Her performances at Milano Cortina were a reminder that the Paralympic movement is built on stories of perseverance, and that records, however remarkable, are ultimately a reflection of years of quiet, determined work.