This Atherton grad will compete in Toyko Paralympics, gets big donation from Toyota – Courier Journal
Eight-time Olympic medalist Oksana Masters of Louisville is getting some extra financial “love” ahead of the Paralympic Games being held in Tokyo this summer.
In an effort to further support Team USA’s Paralympic athletes as they pursue their sports dreams, Toyota has announced its support of adaptive sports athletes with the creation of nearly $5 million in stipend and sponsorship opportunities.
The funds will directly impact the lives of eligible U.S. Paralympic athletes aiming to compete at the Paralympic Games this summer in Tokyo and the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing.
One of the recipients is Masters, who began her Olympic journey in an adaptive rowing program on the Ohio River while she was a student at Highland Middle School.
Born in Ukraine in 1989 with severe physical defects most likely related to radiation poisoning from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Oksana was given up for adoption at birth. She spent her first seven and a half years in the country’s troubled orphanage system, where malnutrition and emotional and physical abuse were common.
Oskana was adopted by Gay Masters, a former speech pathologist at the University of Louisville, and brought to the United States, where she discovered her love of rowing. She rowed throughout her four years at Atherton High school and then partnered with Rob Jones, also a double-amputee athlete.
Related:Atherton grad, Olympic medalist featured on ‘Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.’
The pair won the Bronze Olympic medal in the trunk and arms mixed double sculls event at the London Olympics in 2012. When the summer games ended, Masters turned her sights to the winter Olympics and began skiing immediately after London. With just over a year to learn and train for two new sports, she competed in cross country skiing and the biathlon at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi and brought home silver and bronze medals.
“Heading into Sochi 2014, I slept out of a car chasing my Paralympic dream,” Masters told The Courier Journal. “Toyota’s announcement of monetary support and sponsorship opportunities for U.S. Paralympic athletes is a game-changer. It’s been incredible to see how the Paralympic Movement has grown over the years, and it’s in part because of the continued support from sponsors like Toyota who are dedicated to elevating awareness for all Paralympic athletes.”
Due to a back injury after Sochi, Masters took up hand cycling as a recovery process and to help maintain her fitness.
In that sport, she qualified for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and finished just off the podium in fourth in the road race. Masters is currently training to compete in the cycling events in the Toyko Olympics.
More:The bond between Paralympian Oksana Masters and her mother began in a Ukrainian orphanage
“The extra funds and expanded sponsorship opportunities give our Paralympic athletes more time to focus on training as they prepare for their goal of representing our country on the global stage,” said Sarah Hirshland, chief executive officer of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
This funding is also aimed at encouraging more adaptive athletes to pursue their dreams even when the expense of doing so seems insurmountable.
“I am 16 and have been competing in Para track and field since I was 8 years old,” said Ezra Frech, U.S. Paralympic hopeful. “Unfortunately, I have seen many of my fellow adaptive athletes quit competing because of the expense for equipment, travel and training. This program (Toyota) should inspire more young athletes to keep grinding.”
Toyota’s donation is a one-time stipend of $3,000 to be made to all eligible Team USA Paralympic athletes who are currently training and in contention to represent the United States at the Tokyo and Beijing Games. Toyota will also offer sponsorship opportunities to athletes named to the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Tokyo and Beijing Games.
The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. For 2021, the Paralympic Games have been rescheduled to begin Aug. 24 and will end Sept. 5.
Reach Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com or Twitter @kirbylouisville.