Partners: Paralympic Rower Oksana Masters and partner Rob Jones, pictured, train six days a week

'That's why for me, eating is one of the hardest things.'

The rower, who was adopted at age seven and later moved to Louisville, Kentucky, told KLTV that her disability was caused by exposure to a nuclear power plant near her village.


Winner: Oksana Masters, pictured centre, with team mate Robert Jones, pictured left, after winning the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup III in Serbia

'I was born with legs, but they were so deformed,' she said.

'In my village, they actually had frequent leaks, the radiation would just leak out.'

After suffering searing pain, both legs were amputated.

She was encouraged to try adaptive rowing in the eight grade by her mother and soon fell in love with the water.

Ms Masters said training for the Paralympic games, which run from August 29 until September 9, was like a full time job.

'We are on the water six out of seven days a week,' she said.

Her partner, Rob Jones, lost his legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2010.

Their rowing mixed doubles team beat Brazil to win the World Cup in Serbia qualifying for the Paralympics.

The sports star said she couldn't wait to take her boat from the mighty Ohio to Dorney Lake in England, where the rowing events for the 2012 summer games will be held.

'I don't think it really hit me and I don't think it has still hit me,' Ms Masters told KLTV.

'It's London, that it's the games and it's the big goal I've been training for, for six years.

'I'm so excited and I get goose bumps thinking about it. Obviously, I smile like a big cheesy kid.'

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