American three-time paralympian Oksana Masters, who suffered birth
defects from the Chernobyl disaster has rebuilt her life through sport.
It's been 30 years since the Chernobyl disaster sent a
radioactive cloud over much of Europe, but American three-time
paralympian Oksana Masters still lives with it every day.
Masters was born in Ukraine with legs of a different length without
shin bones, five webbed fingers without a thumb, six toes on each foot
and one kidney.
"It's amazing that I am even here," she said.
"I am very lucky to be living my dream."
The 27-year-old has rebuilt her life through sport, making her
cycling debut at the Rio Games after a career in Paralympic rowing,
cross-country skiing and biathlon.
Masters' mother was exposed to the radioactive fallout from the nuclear reactor accident of 1986.
Police would tour her village in Ukraine warning people to board up
the windows and doors of their homes and stay indoors for days when
radiation clouds blew past.
Masters spent the first seven years of her life in an orphanage where she suffered lack of food, physical and sexual abuse.
Many memories are blocked out, but Masters said workers used to pimp out the kids.
When Masters' foster mother Gay brought her to America, her life transformed.
Her legs were amputated above the knee, the first operation when she was nine years old and the second five years later.
The minute Masters got out of hospital, she was determined to take advantage of every minute.
Masters, who posed nude for ESPN's 2012 Body Issue, says she's been
through her share of psychiatrists but sport has been the most healing.
"Sport has definitely been an outlet for me," she said.
Masters won a bronze medal for rowing at the London Games but
sustained a back injury in 2013 and began competitive cycling the
following year.
She claimed silver and bronze medals in Paralympic cross-country skiing events at Sochi 2014.
Masters doesn't think about her past much these days.
"Just keep moving forward," she said.
I am thankful for the experience. It has made me who I am. It has put me where I am right now and I am very happy to be here."
Data: 17.09.2016
Fonte: www.sbs.com.au
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