From Chernobyl to World Champion | Oksana Masters

Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

What if I told you that one of the most dominant athletes of our time began her life in unimaginable hardship - and then rewrote her story, chapter by chapter?

This week, we revisit one of the most powerful conversations in the Finding Mastery vault with Oksana Masters; multi-sport Paralympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in U.S. history (with 19 medals).

Born in Ukraine with birth defects caused by radiation exposure from Chernobyl, abandoned to an orphanage, and later adopted in the U.S, Oksana’s journey is a masterclass in grit, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of agency. Her story is not only about becoming a world-class athlete - it’s also about reclaiming her narrative, finding freedom through adversity, and turning deep pain into fuel for thriving.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Oksana transformed unimaginable hardship into strength and purpose
• Why reclaiming agency - even in the smallest ways - can change the trajectory of a life
• The role joy and play can have as tools for survival in the darkest moments
• How she navigated trauma while striving for greatness on the world stage
• What resilience really looks like when challenge isn’t avoided, but embraced

This is a conversation about courage, hope, and an indomitable human spirit, an episode that will stay with you long after you’ve listened.

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