Jake Adicoff’s Paralympics Mastery Keeps the US At the Top Again!
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — There was no bow this time at the Milan Cortina Games for Jake Adicoff, the first out gay American male Winter Paralympic champion. Instead, he was tackled to the ground by teammate Oksana Masters after they helped the United States win the Para cross-country mixed relay on Saturday. “It was initially a hug, and then she kind of put all her weight into it, and then all of a sudden I was on the ground," Adicoff said.
"She goes crazy, she’s got a lot of passion. She takes that to the race course and to the celebrations afterwards. ” It was a record-extending 23rd Paralympic medal for Masters , the most decorated American Winter Paralympian.
Also on the U. S. team were Joshua Sweeney and Sydney Peterson.
“I’m a very passionate, aggressive person, and I was just so excited. I was so happy for Jake, because I know he’s chasing that clean sweep in cross-country skiing," she said. “To be able to do my part for him, it just felt so good that he is on his way to achieving his dreams.
” Adicoff, who is vision impaired, had won his first individual Paralympic gold medal in the sprint classic race on Tuesday, becoming the first out gay American male athlete to win gold in the Winter Paralympics, according to Team USA. His second victory came in the interval start classic on Wednesday. “The relay is really fun because you actually get to watch your teammates," he said.