Top 50 Moments of 2017: No 20

Oksana Masters delivered her best performance at a World Para Nordic Skiing Championships as she sealed one biathlon and three cross-country golds in Finsterau, Germany, in February 2017.

Her achievement enters at No. 20 in the International Paralympic Committee´s (IPC) Top 50 Moments of 2017: https://www.paralympic.org/top-50-moments-2017

The US Nordic skier first won the women’s cross-country sprint sitting ahead of Germany’s Andrea Eskau and Belarus’ Lidziya Hrafeyeva. She followed that up with victory in the long distance with a time of 36:01. Norway’s Birgit Skarstein (36:51) and Eskau (37:00) completed the podium.

Her last cross-country gold came in the middle distance, where she clocked 14:15 to finish first, followed by Eskau (14:30) and Skarstein (14:42).

Despite not being her main sport, Masters also showed strength in the biathlon by finishing first in the sprint, with Germany’s Anja Wicker and Hrafeyeva completing the top-three. Masters also claimed bronze in the individual race and finished fourth in the middle distance.

Masters’ four titles helped the USA finish joint second in the medals table with Canada and behind only Ukraine.

“Winning four golds at a World Championships this year definitely helps me enter this new season and the Paralympic year with confidence,” she said.

“I would say the confidence it has given me is to believe in myself and have the confidence to ski more aggressively and challenge myself.”

The 28-year-old enjoyed the best season in her career, also claiming the Golden Globe after ending first at the cross-country World Cup overall standings.

“Last season definitely gave me more motivation but at the same time I’m not going to approach the start line of my races with the thought ‘I have to get gold’,” she said.

“I am so excited to enter PyeongChang more experienced in ski racing and shooting which gives me confidence.”

The full rundown of the Top 50 Moments will continue until 31 December.