Ukraine-born Oksana Masters wins first US gold of Beijing Winter Paralympics

After Oksana Masters won the first US gold medal of the 2022 Beijing Paralympics on Saturday by taking first in the women’s biathlon sitting sprint, the Ukraine-born multi-sport star dedicated her win to the people of her homeland.

Masters, who finished the 6km course in 20min 51.2sec with a 100% accuracy in two prone shootings, shared the podium with Kendall Gretsch, another American multi-sport threat who earned the bronze four years after taking gold in Pyeongchang. China’s Yilin Shan won silver for the host country.

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“I owe a lot to my mom and then it is for Team Ukraine and Ukrainian people,” Masters said. “It is as much for Team USA as 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.”

For the 32-year-old Masters, it marked her 11th career Paralymic medal – and fifth gold – less then eight months her road cycling golds in time trial and road race at the Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

Her eighth career Winter Paralympic medal lifted Masters into a tie for third all-time among US women behind only alpine skiiers Sarah Will and Sarah Billmeier, who won 13 apiece. She could race up to seven times over nine days in Beijing, placing that record squarely in target.

But for all the silverware in her trophy cabinet, Saturday’s win marked her first biathlon title in three tries.

“My first biathlon gold medal and I never thought I will 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