Paralympic Medal Count: Oksana Masters Claims 11th Gold in Milan Cortina
Oksana Masters surged to her 11th Paralympic gold on Tuesday in Milan Cortina, a win she called “redemption” that immediately altered the paralympic medal count for the United States. Masters overtook a race leader on the final incline to win the women’s sprint sitting discipline in Para cross-country skiing in Italy. The victory followed a second gold in Para biathlon earlier at the Games and capped a comeback from a season of surgery, a bone infection and a concussion.
Paralympic Medal Count: Masters’ haul and the numbers
Masters’ sprint win is the latest addition to a career total that spans both Winter and Summer Paralympics. She now has seven Winter Paralympic gold medals plus four Summer Paralympic golds, bringing her career medal haul to 21 overall—16 Winter medals and five Summer medals—figures listed by Team USA. The sprint sitting title on Tuesday was a direct reversal of a fourth-place finish in the same event four years earlier, and combined with her Para biathlon sprint gold at these Games, it underlines her dominant presence in both sport disciplines.
The race itself unfolded as a dramatic chase: Masters was 40 meters behind leader Yunji Kim at the start of the final incline, then powered up the ascent to overtake her rival at the summit and sprint to the line. The win follows a difficult lead-up season for Masters that included surgery, a bone infection and a concussion, making the victory a marked personal comeback as well as a competitive triumph.
Immediate reactions from the athlete and close family
“It was just such a relief and redemption from Beijing. It was the one that got away. I love sprints and I hate sprints because there’s so much stress, ” Oksana Masters, Paralympic athlete, Team USA, said after the race. “I struggle with believing in myself and that was a big thing. The team believed in me, so I wanted to show up for my team. “
Masters described the emotional release at the line, screaming in delight multiple times after the win. “I hate chasing. I would rather be chased, but I do realize that I do well with chasing and reeling people in, one by one, staying smooth and relaxed, ” she added. On winning two golds at these Games she said, “I feel absolutely on top of the world right now, just in complete shock, and so, so happy. “
Personal background cited by Team USA notes Masters was born in Ukraine with birth defects believed to be related to the Chernobyl nuclear accident and was adopted and raised in the United States by Gay Masters, a professor at the University of Louisville. She underwent leg amputations at ages 9 and 14 and has competed at every Paralympics since 2012 across winter and summer sports.
What’s next — legacy and attention as the Games continue
Masters’ latest gold reshapes immediate medal tallies and focuses attention on her as these Games continue; her place as the most decorated American Winter Paralympian is reinforced by the new totals and by her cross-season versatility. Expect ongoing coverage of her remaining events and continued scrutiny of the paralympic medal count as teams and athletes settle into the middle rounds of competition. Masters’ blend of sprint power and comeback narrative ensures her results will be watched closely for the remainder of the schedule, and her 21-medal career will remain a central measure of U. S. performance and Paralympic history.
