Oksana Masters powers U.S. one-two to deliver first medals at Milano Cortina Paralympics
Oksana Masters captured gold in the women’s 7. 5km sitting biathlon sprint at Val di Fiemme, posting a time of 21: 21. 3 and leading a United States one-two finish that produced the country’s first medals of the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. The result is notable not only for immediate national standings but because it extended Masters’ career haul to 20 Paralympic medals.
Oksana Masters dominates 7. 5km sitting sprint with perfect shooting and decisive final lap
Masters and teammate Kendall Gretsch both shot a flawless 10-for-10 on the range, meaning the race was decided entirely on the snow. Masters used superior speed on the final lap to pull clear, crossing the line 16 seconds ahead of Gretsch. Germany’s Anja Wicker took bronze behind the American pair.
The winning time — 21: 21. 3 over the 7. 5km course — delivered Masters her 10th Paralympic gold medal. That gold also marked the 20th Paralympic medal of her career, a total that, by NBC research, places her among a small group of Americans who have reached 20 or more Paralympic medals.
Val di Fiemme result caps a difficult buildup for Masters
What made the victory more consequential was the string of setbacks Masters faced in the run-up to the Games. She underwent surgery in the summer and battled an infection and a concussion in recent weeks that limited her training time. Those interruptions reduced her practice volume and raised questions about race readiness, but her perfect performance on the range and the decisive speed on snow produced the outcome.
Masters, 36, has competed at every Paralympics since 2012 and has won medals across multiple disciplines, including Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon, Para-cycling and Para rowing. She is now the most decorated winter athlete in U. S. Paralympic history, with 15 Winter Games medals — six of them gold — and five Summer Games medals including four golds.
Kendall Gretsch’s silver and broader biathlon schedule in Val di Fiemme
Gretsch’s second-place finish completed the American one-two and underscored the depth of the U. S. sitting biathlon contingent. The pair’s matching 10-for-10 shooting performances show how range consistency can shift outcomes toward pure skiing speed in this format. Para biathlon competition will continue in Val di Fiemme with individual events scheduled next, offering more medal opportunities across sitting, standing and visually impaired classifications.
Masters reflected on the moment with emphasis on partnership and competition, saying that sharing the podium with a friend and rival made the accomplishment especially meaningful. Her comments to the highlighted how teammates can push each other both on the range and over the course.
Statistically, the result reinforces Masters’ rare longevity and versatility: she has earned medals at both Winter and Summer Paralympics and became the first American to win seven medals in seven events at a single Paralympics during Beijing 2022. The timing matters because achieving peak performance after surgery and recent health challenges underscores a capacity to recover and adapt that directly influenced the race outcome.
This victory also has immediate impact on the U. S. medal table at Milano Cortina, delivering the nation’s opening hardware and setting a competitive tone for forthcoming biathlon races. With Masters and Gretsch atop the sitting podium, attention will turn to whether the U. S. can convert that momentum into further medals as the para biathlon schedule progresses in Val di Fiemme.
