Lera Doederlein’s story: From Russian orphanage to Paralympic hopeful

Oksana is a highly accomplished Paralympian, multi-sport athlete, and influential and recognizable Pro athlete. Lera is a teenager and a CAF grant recipient for sled hockey, cycling, surfing and more. She dreams of following her path and pursuing her own Paralympic dreams. Together these two have shown the power an athlete has when given their mobility and the tools they need to realize their dreams. With support from Toyota and CAF, Oksana and Lera are writing their own success stories. We are officially one year out from the opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics where we expect Oksana will be competing for gold for Team USA.

Lera has been a part of CAF/Nexus Women's Handcycling Team lead by the legendary, Iron Man champion, Carlos Moleda.

This video documents CAF's first Women's Handcycling Team, their team dynamic, strategy and goals.

Lera was born in Russia with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a severe condition that affects joints in her legs. She was adopted and moved to the US at nearly two years old, where she used forearm crutches as her main form of mobility. When she grew into her teenage years, she had been told life would get harder in the future, with mobility getting more restrictive for her. At 14 years old she decided to double-amputate both of her legs above the knee. It wasn't long before Lera was introduced to adaptive sports! Lera was selected to play for the 2019-2020 women’s US national sled hockey team after only two years of playing the sport, Lera is making her mark in the sport and is hoping to help get woman's Sled Hockey a Paralympic sport (like the males is!). Lera has ambitions of competing in the Paralympic's at Nordic Skiing! On top of this Lera also competes in Hand Cycling and Adaptive Surfing! To follow Lera's journey on instagram follow - LERA_0415

Please join us for an engaging converastion with Bob Babbitt and Lera Doederlein & Oksana Masters who are representing the first-ever CAF Women’s Handcycling Team. Both Lera and Oksana compete at the highest level of the sport and are changing the face of women in the cycling and athletic world. Lera Doederlein (16) was born in Russia with a severe condition that affects joints in her legs. She was adopted and moved to the US before she was 2 years old. She ultimately made the decision to have a bilateral above-knee amputation and was quickly introduced to adaptive sports. She plays sled hockey for the San Diego Ducks and last Fall was awarded “the 21st Duck”, a prestigious honor from the NHL Anaheim Ducks team. Team Toyota athlete, Oksana Masters went from a Ukrainian orphanage to a Paralympic star. Oksana was born with severe physical defects related to radiation poisoning from a nuclear reactor incident in 1986. After being adopted at the age of 8, she moved to the USA and had both legs amputated and dealt with a host of other medical challenges. A few years later, she developed a strong passion for sports and her resilience, strength and determination led her to become a multisport Paralympian. She has competed in the Paralympic Games for various sports and has become a mentor to many of the young athletes she inspires.

Lera Doederlein is a member of the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Women’s Handcycling Team and a Paralympic hopeful in Handcycling, Sled Hockey, Nordic Skiing, and Biathlon. Her legs were both amputated above the knee when she was 14 and it was at that point that sport became a huge part of her life. Filmed on location in Boise, Idaho before the USA Cycling Para-cycling Road National Championships @ChallengedAthletesFoundation