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26dierentlengthshandswithwebbedngersandnothumbssixtoesoneachfootandthelackofaweight-bearingshinboneineachcalf.Fast-forwardsevenyearsMasterndsherselfadoptedbyanunmarriedcollegeprofessorfromBualoNewYorkwhotakesherinandmakessuretheyounggirlstartstoreceivethelevelofmedicalattentionandexpertisehervariousconditionshadbeendemandingforyears.ThatattentionincludesthelastfewofsevendierentoperationsshehadearlyinlifeandultimatelytheremovalofbothlegsaboveOksanasknees.Thatlastpartisthebadnews.ThegoodnewsisthatforthersttimeinherlifeMastersnallyhastwofunctioninghandslegsthatnolongercauseherconstantpainandabodythatisatlonglastdiseasefreeandworkingwithhernotagainsther.Sheisnallyayoungladywhoisphysicallyreadytotackleallthatlifehastooerthosewithtalentandambitioninheradoptedcountry.Mastershadbegunrowingevenbeforeherrightlegwasamputatedandsoonbegandoingsocompetitively.By2010shehadgottensogoodthatshehadestablishedaworldrecordinthesport.ThatsameyearshenotonlymadehistoryastherstadaptivescullertoraceintheIndianapolisRowingClubregattasheactuallywonthewomensopendivisioneasilyoutpacingaeldofable-bodiedcompetitors.Itwasclearthatthesportofrowinghadanemergingsuperstaronitshandsable-bodiedorotherwise.Roughlyayearlaterseeingherobviousgiftforthesportandrealizingshehadtotrainatthenextlevelhercoachrecom-mendedthatMasterscouldactuallybegoodenoughtomaketheU.S.ParalympicsquadandthatherbestbetwouldbetoteamwithaninjuredwarveteranheknewaformerMarinewhohadParalympicbronzemedalistOksanaMastersisshootingforanothermedalthistimeinasportshetookuplessthansixmonthsago.SomethirtyyearsagoSyracuseUniversitybasketballcoachJimBoeheimwascontemplatingwhowouldplaycenterforhimintheupcomingseasonwhenintohisocewalkedakidfromLeba-nonwithhandsthesizeofpizzasandaskedhimafavor.Thekidwantedtoknowifthelegendarycoachwouldmindgivinghimatryout.TwoyearslaterhisSyracuseOrangemenfoundthem-selvesinthenalgameoftheNCAAFinalFourledbytheirAllAmericancenterakidnamedRonySeikaly.Nowthenalchapterhasyettobewrittenbutthatkindofout-of-the-bluerequestfromadierence-makerofanathleteisnotunlikewhathappenedthisspringtotheNordicocialsoftheU.S.ParalympicSkiTeamwhenoneoftherisingstarsinallofParalympicsportsawomanwholikesomesupernovahadseeminglymadehermarkovernightinacompletelydierentdisciplinewalkeduptothemonedayandsaidshedliketotryoutfortheirteamthismindyoudespitethefactshehadonlybeenoncross-countryskisafewtimesinherlifeandhadneveronceeventhoughtofcompetingonthem.MeetOksanaMastersUkrainianimmigrantadopteedoubleamputeeParalympicbronzemedalistinmixed-teamrowingandNordicwannabe.TheearlylifeofOksanaMasterswasstraightoutofDickens.BornintheUkraineandleftbyherbirthparentsatanorphan-ageshegrewupinthatsameorphanagewhereperhapsduetoherbirthmothersexposuretotheradiationemanatingfromanearbynucleardumpingsiteshehadbeenbornwithanumberoflife-challengingphysicaldefectsincludinglegsoftwoextremelyNEWHORIZONS