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AndImgoingtodomybestIpromiseyouthat.Ilovethesport.lostbothlegsinAfghanistanwhowasmakinganameforhimselfintheWashingtonD.C.area.SoonMasterswastrainingdailywithpartnerRobJonesandafewmonthslatertheduobill-ingthemselvesasTeamBadCompanygotgoodenoughtoactuallywinboththeAdaptiveWorldChampionshipstrialsandtheU.S.Paralympicqualicationnals.BeforetheyevenknewwhathadhitthemtheywereontheirwaytoLondontocompeteintheirrst-everParalympics.OntheThamesbattlingworld-classscullersfromallovertheworldandracingagainstpowerfulteamswithnotonlyafargreaterwealthofexperiencebutmuchmoretimetogetheronthewaterMastersandJonesshockedtherowingestablish-mentbynishingthirdinthetrunk-and-armsmixed-doublescullsandearningwhattomanywasanutterlyunexpectedspotonthepodium.Overthepastyearorsoduenodoubttoherunmistak-ableandevenstrikingcombinationofcharmbeautyandworld-classtalentOksanahasemergedassomethingofacelebrity.ShewasrecentlyfeaturedinSouthwestAirlinesin-ightmagazineSpiritandinthepagesofSportsIllustrated.Priortothe2012SummerParalympicGamesinLondonshewasnamedoneof10U.S.athletestowatchbytheBritishnewspaperTheGuardianandwasnamedoneofthe11hottestParalympicathletesbyMSN.ButallthatpaledwhenshewasapproachedbyESPNtheMagazineandaskedtobeapartofthe2012editionofESPNsannualBodyIssue.Withoutknowinganythingabouttheissueorwhatitentailedsheimmediatelyagreedtobeincludedwithoutrealizingthateveryathletefeaturedwascompletelynaked.Butbythenshehadgivenherwordanddidnotwanttobackout.Theresultsendedupbeingtasteful.ButOksanaMastersnudelayoutwasimportantbecausealltitillationasideithelpedpullbackthecurtainandatleastinsomesmallmeasuredemys-tifywhatitmeanstohaveadisability.AndmorethananythingelsebyposingwithoutclothesandappearingbeforemillionsofeyesinsucharefreshinglyopenandcandidmannerMastersshowedtheworldthataphysicaldisabilitycanbeandoftenisbeautiful.Infactshelatersaidthehardestpartofdoingtheshootwasntsomuchposingnudeitwasgettingpastthefactthattheshootwasnotabouther.Itwasaboutpeopleeverywherewhowereinherwordsinanywayshapeorformphysicallydierentfromthetraditionalconceptofbeauty.ThoughshesaysItwasalittleweirdatrstsittinginaboatnakedtheywereverypro-fessionalandmademefeelverycomfortable.IjustkepttellingmyselfthisisforallthosepeopleouttherewhodonttsocietystraditionalBarbie-dollconceptofwhatrealbeautyis.AsformakingtheteamandcompetinginSochiironicallynotallthatfarfromwhereshespenttherstsevenyearsofherlifeMastersisentirelyrealisticaboutherchancesparticularlyaboutthelatter.ImnotkiddingmyselfshesaidofherexpectationsforSochi.Imnotexpectingtowinamedalorbeanywherenearthepodiumoreveninthetoptenforthatmatter.ShethenaddedImjustgoingtogoovertherehopefullythatisandbeproudtorepresenttheUSA.AndImgoingtodomybestIpromiseyouthat.Ilovethesport.Itsanewanddierentchal-lengeanditsgotmyfullattention.OksanaMastersmaybenewtothiswholeskiingthingandshemaybeafewyearsfromactuallybeingabletodoasaNordicracerwhatshesshownshecandoasasculler.Butbasedonherhistorytrackrecordandwillingnesstodiveinheadrstwhencommittingtosomethingnottomentionofcourseherap-parentimmunitytothefearoffailureitappearsthatonlyafoolwouldbetagainsther.