STAFF MEDIA PICK: The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters
September 2024
When I picked up The Hard Parts: A Story of Courage and Triumph by Oksana Masters, I was excited to learn about the life of one of the most decorated summer and winter Paralympic athletes (9x gold medalist, 7x silver medalist, and 3x bronze medalist). Within the first couple of pages, I was invested in her story. This memoir isn’t just a retelling of her journey as a Paralympic champion; it’s a profound exploration of what it means to face life’s toughest challenges—and emerge stronger.
Oksana’s story begins far from the medal podium, in Ukraine, where she was born with multiple congenital disabilities caused by radiation exposure from the Chornobyl disaster. Growing up in a Ukrainian orphanage, her early life was marked by hardship, but even in these dire circumstances, there are glimpses of the grit and hope that would one day help fuel her remarkable athletic career.
What I truly appreciated about The Hard Parts is how Oksana doesn’t shy away from the pain—both physical and emotional—that she’s endured. From multiple surgeries to adjusting to a new home in another country following her adoption by an American mother, she is honest about the struggles she has encountered in her life. Yet, the book never feels weighed down by these hardships. Instead, it’s uplifting, showing readers that perseverance is built one small victory at a time.
Oksana’s rise to becoming a multi-sport Paralympic champion (in para-rowing, para-cycling, and para nordic skiing) is awe-inspiring, but what makes her journey even more compelling is her resilience outside of competition. Her candid reflections on body image, self-worth, and the expectations placed on athletes make the book relatable to anyone who’s ever faced self-doubt.
What resonated with me the most was her message of embracing the so-called “hard parts” of life. Oksana doesn’t try to sugarcoat her experiences. She acknowledges that the road has been long and painful but shows how these difficulties have shaped her into the person and athlete she is today. Her story is a powerful reminder that sharing the hard parts of our lives can be the one thing that can help change another person’s life. As Oksana so beautifully writes, “But we need to share stories, I suddenly understand, even the hard ones. Especially the hard ones. Because we have no idea how it might change someone’s life…that’s an incredibly powerful thing. It’s an enormous, bigger-than-any-of-us thing.”
The writing itself is straightforward yet poignant, making it easy to connect with Oksana’s emotions and experiences. She brings readers into her world, making us feel the weight of every challenge and the elation of every triumph.
If you’re looking for a book that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered, The Hard Parts is it. Oksana Masters teaches us that strength comes in many forms, and sometimes, it’s the hardest parts of life that show us just how resilient we can be.
Learn more about Oksana Master’s athletic career.
Written by Julia Herman