US Paralympian Oksana Masters reflects on winning 22 medals: “My cheeks hurt from smiling”

Oksana Masters, the Most decorated US Winter Paralympian of all time, told CBS News that “my cheeks hurt from smiling” after winning three gold medals in Milan.

“I feel like I’m on top of the world,” Masters said. “I’m shocked.”

Kings he took home his 20th medal after taking first place in the women’s sitting Para biathalon on March 7. She also won two more medals – her 21st and 22nd – in the Para skiing events. He won both races, making his gold medal tally 12. The Masters has one race remaining at the 2026 Winter Games.

The Masters season was marred by surgery, a bone infection and a seizure, but he told CBS News that his friendships as an orphan in Ukraine gave him the resilience needed to persevere in the world of competitive sports. Masters was adopted by an American couple when he was 7 years old. He later had his legs amputated due to exposure to radiation from the Chernobyl disaster.

“I know that life is not guaranteed, so I didn’t take anything for granted,” said Masters. “When I reflect back … my personal journey is very similar to my running journey. I didn’t make my first Paralympic Games in 2008 when I wanted to. I know what it’s like to not make it, to make it, to win gold or walk away from the Paralympic Games without medals. I think that’s because of not giving up, when I was a little girl now in Ukraine.”

This is the eighth Masters Paralympics. He has competed in both summer and winter events since 2012 but said it is impossible to choose which Games he likes best. Summer has “better tan lines and rowing,” but cross-country skiing at the Winter Paralympics remains unique, Masters says.

“You can never have the same course twice or the same lap twice,” he told CBS News. “When I ski at the start of a race, one lap, the second lap is different. So I’m always adjusting and finding those fast lines, fast ice. And I’m not settling. I’m always adjusting and pushing myself outside of my comfort zones and that’s something that’s very unique in winter sports in general. I love that part of it.”

Masters is an icon among Paralympic athletes and a role model for his younger teammates. He said he feels fortunate to “show both sides of the athlete and the journey,” and to show that there is “no perfect timeline” for success.

“I feel like it’s just an absolute honor to be able to show parts of my journey, the ups and downs, because I think it’s very important to see those who get gold medals or (starters) that it doesn’t have to go well, and it usually doesn’t, and that’s okay,” said Masters. “Don’t give up on you and your dream.”

Meanwhile, his inspiration is close to home.

“My mom is my number one reason why I’m here and why I keep pushing myself and trying to find out what’s really possible, and prove to the community what’s really possible,” Masters said.

The US is currently second in the Paralympic medal count, with 12 medals, behind China, with 14 medals in total.