The cyclist, biathlete, and cross-country skier competes for the United States but was born and lived in Ukraine until she was eight years old.

"In my heart, I know 100 per cent Ukraine is going to win the battle and the war," Masters told NBC.

The 33-year-old is currently in training for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games where she will look to defend her road time trial and road race titles in the H5 class.

She says that it is an exciting time for Para athletes as "change is happening".

Some of that, she feels, is down to broader awareness and appreciation for them.

For example, Masters was nominated for three Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards last year.

She was the first person with a disability to ever be nominated for Best Female Athlete at the event.

Masters won three gold medals at Beijing 2022 but almost did not compete due to the Russian invasion on February 24 last year, just over a week before the start of the Games.

"I actually told my coach 'I don't think I can do this, I don't think I'm going to go,'" she recalled.

"I felt it was the most selfish thing on earth to be going to compete and do sports and compete at the Paralympic Games when there were families and kids who no longer have homes to come home to."

Masters donated part of her Paralympic prize money to Bright Kid Charity to help support Ukrainian children with disabilities.