She is one of the biggest names in para biathlon, with five Paralympic medals to her name. At last year’s World Championships in Prince George, she completed a full medal set—gold, silver, and bronze. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Oksana Masters cannot defend her titles in Pokljuka. However, her hunger for success remains, and she has already set her sights on returning to next year’s Paralympics.

Just days before the first-ever IBU Para Biathlon World Championships, which will feature 90 athletes from 16 countries, we invited Oksana Masters to our Experts' Corner. She shared her picks for the medal contenders and opened up about her journey back to full health.

Biathlonworld: First of all, congratulations on your incredible achievements at the Paris Paralympic Games. Nine Paralympic gold medals is an extraordinary feat, but are you still hungry for more?

Oksana Masters: Oh, absolutely! I’m definitely still hungry for more. I’m not satisfied yet—my goal is to reach at least ten gold medals. It would be nice to see a double-digit number next to my titles.

BW: You are one of the most significant absentees this season. Can you tell us how your injury happened, how your recovery is progressing, and whether there's a chance we’ll see you competing again before the season ends?

OM: This has been an incredibly tough season. I already missed the 2023 World Championships, and now I have to sit out this year’s as well. It all started just two weeks into my winter training when I was transitioning from para-cycling to biathlon and cross-country skiing in November. I developed an infection and went to a local hospital in Canmore for treatment. Unfortunately, the procedure they used made things worse, and overnight, my condition deteriorated. My leg turned black, and I had to be flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where I was put on antibiotics and underwent procedures to stop the infection from spreading to the bone. The biggest concern was protecting the integrity of my leg to ensure I could continue using a prosthetic in the future. Initially, I was told recovery would take six weeks, but complications arose, and I’m well past that timeline. I’ll miss both the World Championships and the World Cup Final because I still can’t fit into my sit ski or strap my leg properly. There’s still significant swelling and internal bleeding. It’s extra tough being here in Slovenia with the team but not being able to compete. I’ll have to watch from the sidelines instead of defending my titles from Prince George. It’s heartbreaking, especially since I’ve raced here before in rowing, and I would have loved to compete as a biathlete as well. I’ve been following all the BMW IBU World Cup races during my indoor training, and knowing that para biathlon is now racing at the same venues is a huge step forward. I’ll miss this battle, but my focus now is on making a strong comeback for the Paralympic Games. The most important thing for me is to stay healthy and mentally strong.

BW: The season is well underway, with competitions in Vuokatti and Val di Fiemme behind us and the Para Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka just around the corner. Despite your absence, the women's sitting category has been highly competitive, with five different athletes making it to the podium so far. However, Kendall Gretsch remains the standout, winning all three of her races. Do you think anyone can challenge her dominance?

OM: To be honest, probably not. Kendall is an incredible athlete, and biathlon is something she excels at. If anyone can challenge her, I’d say Anja Wicker from Germany. She’s a fantastic biathlete with years of experience and success. However, Kendall will still be tough to beat in this category.

BW: On the men’s side, you’ll surely be rooting for your life partner, Aaron Pike. We know he has recovered from his illness—what are your expectations for him? Who do you see as his biggest rivals?

OM: I would love to see Aaron repeat his success from the 2023 World Championships. Unfortunately, he missed some races this season and didn’t fully prepare. My dream podium would be Aaron Pike, Scott Meenagh from Great Britain, and Canada’s Derek Zaplotinsky. They’re all good friends, and I’d love to see that trio take the medals. But it will be a tough battle, mainly if Taras Rad from Ukraine competes—he’s an incredible athlete. It makes me proud to be Ukrainian and to see Aaron on the podium alongside Taras, as they have a lot of mutual respect. The men’s field is deep and highly competitive, so we will be able to witness some exciting races.

BW: Do you follow the results in the standing and vision-impaired categories? Are there any athletes in these classifications that have particularly impressed you?

OM: I expect a great competition between Brittany Hudak and her teammate Natalie Wilkie in the women's standing category. Iryna Bui and Oleksandra Kononova from Ukraine will also be strong contenders for medals. Personally, I’m hoping to see my teammate Danielle Aravich succeed and win her first individual biathlon medal. She has been putting in a lot of work, and this is something she’s focused on. Since we train a lot in Canmore, I also watch the Canadian team. Mark Arendz and Benjamin Daviet are my top picks in the men’s standing category. I’m always cheering for Grygorii Vovchynskyi from Ukraine as well—I hope he puts together a great race. In the vision-impaired category, I was impressed with Carina Edlinger’s performance in Val di Fiemme, and I’m excited to see how she builds on that. The Ukrainian men’s team is a powerhouse in this category, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a full Ukrainian podium. And, of course, I have to mention China—they have a big budget, strong athletes, and plenty of resources to stay competitive.

BW: Unfortunately, you haven’t had the chance to compete at the venue that will host the Paralympic biathlon events next year, but have you been able to train there? If so, what are your impressions of the course and its challenges?

OM: It’s disappointing that I couldn’t race there this year, but I did ski and train in Val di Fiemme last year. The shooting range is tricky—sometimes the wind feels stronger than the flags indicate, so you must stay alert. I know they’re planning some course modifications, so in that sense, I’m in the same position as everyone else. Selfishly, I hope they add more climbs and technical sections to the cross-country course because the stadium is relatively flat. I’m also excited to see how they set up the venue for spectators. One thing I love about this place is the section where you ski next to houses and people cheer from their balconies. I’ve heard from my teammates that the atmosphere was incredible. Hopefully, we’ll have more snow next year. And there’s a pizza place right by the course—I already know I’ll be eating there after my races!

BW: This is the first season entirely governed by the IBU, and the para biathlon calendar now features 11 races across four events—a significant improvement from last year. Do you see this as a fresh start for the discipline and a step toward greater recognition?

OM: Absolutely! This is a much-needed fresh start for para biathlon. The IBU has always been committed to growing the biathlon family, giving smaller countries with fewer resources a chance to compete and develop their programs. Now, they’re doing the same for para biathlon, which is why I’m so excited about the future of our sport. What excites me most is that the next generation of para biathletes will enter a sport where they feel included, seen, and equally supported—something that didn’t exist when I first started. Back then, we were pretty much on our own. Now, with world-class venues and full integration into the IBU system, the future looks bright. I’ve never officially said I’m retiring, but when that day comes, I know it will be tough because para biathlon is finally where it deserves to be.

Photos: OIS | IBU Archive