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Tag: gold medal

  • (Press Release) Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch Go 1-2 in Women’s Individual Sitting Biathlon

    (Press Release) Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch Go 1-2 in Women’s Individual Sitting Biathlon

    By Stuart Lieberman | TeamUSA.org

    ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Considering that March is Women’s History Month, U.S. Paralympic Nordic skiers Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch are certainly making their fair share of contributions to the history books.

    Masters and Gretsch picked up gold and silver medals, respectively, on Friday at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, with Masters winning the women’s individual sitting biathlon in 42:17.9 and Gretsch finishing second in 42:23.7.

    It was the third time within a week the pair, who train together in Bozeman, Montana, podiumed at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre. Combined, they have eight medals at these Paralympics, more than half of Team USA’s total medal haul.

    Masters is now a 15-time Paralympic medalist — tying her with John Morgan for the fifth most Paralympic medals by a U.S. athlete — and a six-time Paralympic champion. Already at these Games she had won a gold in the sprint biathlon, and silvers in the middle-distance biathlon, long-distance cross-country and sprint cross-country events.

    Oksana Masters races to gold in the women’s individual biathlon during the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Winter Games. (Photo: Chloe Knott for OIS / TeamUSA)

    Following her first biathlon gold, she posted on Instagram: “Some feelings can’t be put into words. I am beyond proud to stand on the podium representing the heart, fight, love, resiliency, and pure joy for two countries,” referring to the U.S. and Ukraine, the latter being her birth country.

    “I not only finally got to hold my dream, but I also am sharing parts of it with my home country of Ukraine especially for the young kids with disabilities. I want to make every start line mean something, make it really count for more than a result. That’s why I will be donating proceeds of my prize money from the Paralympics here to No Child Forgotten managed by Global Giving and Bridge Kids Charity, supporting children living with physical disabilities in Ukraine – many of them with single moms.”

    Kendall Gretsch skis for silver in the women’s sitting individual biathlon event during the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. (Photo: Chloe Knott for OIS / TeamUSA)

    Gretsch, who is still the reigning world champion in the individual biathlon, is now a six-time Paralympic medalist. This marked her first career silver medal, and she now has the entire collection of colors from Beijing 2022, having already won gold in the middle-distance biathlon and bronze in the sprint biathlon.“Today was an awesome day,” Gretsch said. “For me and the U.S. team it’s always fun to go one-two. We’re both shooting and skiing well, and so it was a fun race today.”

    In the men’s individual sitting biathlon, six-time Paralympic medalist and former U.S. Navy SEAL Dan Cnossen was the top American finisher, taking seventh in 42:46.9. Six-time Paralympian Aaron Pike was ninth in 43:19.0. It was the third top-10 finish for both Cnossen and Pike at these Paralympics.

    Dan Cnossen hits the range during the men’s individual sitting biathlon race in Zhangjiakou, where he finished seventh. (Photo: Chloe Knott for OIS / TeamUSA)

    The U.S. Para Nordic skiers will return to the National Biathlon Centre on Saturday for the cross-country middle distance races.

    Want to follow Team USA athletes during the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022? Visit TeamUSA.org/Beijing-2022-Paralympic-Games to view the competition schedule, medal table and results.

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    Author Bio:

    Stuart Lieberman has covered Paralympic sports for more than 10 years, including for the International Paralympic Committee at the London 2012, Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Games. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
  • Therese Johaug: The Importance of Parents

    Therese Johaug: The Importance of Parents

    “Mom and dad were there. I can’t even remember what we said to each other, I was just so incredibly happy,” Therese Johaug said to Norwegian TV station NRK after her gold medal race in Holmenkollen Saturday.

    Johaug, 22, comes from a farm in the small mountain village Dalsbygda in eastern Norway. She grew up playing around in the fields, and skiing was part of that free play in the snowy months. When she was younger, gymnastics was her big thing, but as she got older, she was increasingly drawn to cross-country skiing. As Johaug shines at the World Championships in Holmenkollen, there is comfort in having her parents on site during the races.

    “Mom and dad, they mean so much to me, and they always have. They support me, back me up through the rough times as well as when things go well,” Johaug said to FasterSkier after her 10K classic on Monday, when she finished fourth.

    “It’s really special to hear their voices along the courses here in Holmenkollen.”

    Homegrown: Regional racing right on Johaug's farm field in Dalsbygda. These races typically attract 200-400 racers 9 years and older. (Photo: Inge Scheve)

    Support from the start

    While a lot of Johaug’s basic ski time was simply informal play on skis at home, around the house, she also started more organized training with the local ski club and entered local races. Accordingly, she needed to be taken to practice and races, help with planning, packing and logistics.

    Old times: Baby sister Veronika, Therese and brother Karstein at home on the farm. (Photo courtesy of Karstein Johaug)

    “My dad, he has waxed a lot of skis over the years. You have to have to have supportive parents to succeed,” Johaug said.

    She was the second child in a family of four. All of them were involved in skiing at some level, with Therese and younger brother Karstein being the most ambitious.

    “You need parents to drive you places, to practices and races,” Johaug said.

    No pressure

    And while Mom and Dad Johaug always encouraged their kids, they never overstepped that fine line between support and pressure.

    “They were never pushy, and they never forced me to race. They never forced me to train; it was always my decision, and always totally voluntary. They’re there for me when I need them, and if I want their advice.”

    “We call each other every day. Then we talk about everything under the sun, from the weather and the wax and the courses and the skiing, to little things like what’s new at home and who’s doing what,” Johaug said.