Draft:Lorraine Truong
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Comment: Most of the sources are from unreliable sources. (eg. instagram, pinkbike) Cactus🌵 spiky ouch 10:06, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
 Lorraine Truong performing a handplant on a quarter pipe in her WCMX Wheelchair at a skatepark. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Pocket Rocket |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Born | 1995 Switzerland |
| Died | June 2025 (aged 30) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Mountain biking, WCMX |
| Disability | Traumatic brain injury |
| Team | BMC (former) |
Lorraine Truong (1995 – June 2025) was a Swiss mountain biker, adaptive athlete, engineer, and brain injury advocate. Known in the cycling world as "Pocket Rocket" [1] [2] for her dynamic racing style, she initially gained recognition as a competitive enduro and downhill racer. She also worked as an engineer for the Swiss bike manufacturer BMC. Her racing career was interrupted in 2015 after a crash and a series of concussions led to a severe brain injury, which significantly altered the course of her life. She later became a leading figure in WCMX (Wheelchair Motocross), becoming the first Swiss female WCMX rider and a three-time WCMX World Champion.[3] [4]
Early life and education
[edit]Truong was born in Switzerland in 1995. She trained as an engineer and obtained a bachelor diploma in Material Sciences Engineering and a Master degree in Mechanical engineering. She worked at BMC, combining technical expertise with her passion for cycling. She rose through the ranks of enduro and downhill mountain biking, competing internationally and earning recognition for both her speed and innovation.[5]
Mountain biking career
[edit]Before her injury, Truong competed in the Enduro World Series and was known for her performance and contributions as both a racer and an engineer [6]. In July 2015, she suffered a crash during an Enduro World Series event. Lorraine recounted her front wheel hitting a hole and flying over the handlebars. She had no recollection of finishing the race in 8th place or the interview after the race. Having previously sustained multiple concussions, this accident resulted in a severe brain injury, ending her professional mountain biking career.[2] [7]
Transition to adaptive sports
[edit]Following her injury, Truong documented her recovery and rehabilitation. She was left with limitations, daily pain and discomfort yet she remained determined to return to sport [8]. She later discovered WCMX after trying a local pump track in her hospital wheelchair. Inspired by the experience, she began training in the sport in May 2018, first sharing her progress via social media.[9]
By October 2018, she was practicing flips on airbags and quickly gained recognition in the WCMX community. She became Switzerland’s first female WCMX athlete and an influential figure in the sport’s development. She competed in multiple international events and helped increase visibility for female and disabled athletes in extreme sports.[10]
She became vice world champion in 2020, and later won WCMX World Championship titles in 2022 and 2023 in the women's division.[3] [4]
Truong described WCMX as uniquely inclusive, promoting shared space and community in skateparks for people of all abilities.[11]
In 2021, She was able to get back into mountain biking with the assistance of the Orange Phase AD3, a powered adaptive mountain bike that she helped design. The bike uses three wheels and a bucket seat for enhanced stability.[12] [13]
Advocacy and innovation
[edit]Truong was instrumental in building the WCMX community in Europe and worldwide. She launched WCMX in Switzerland alongside Swiss Wheelchair Sport. She helped develop one of the first classification systems for the sport to ensure fair competition for athletes with varying levels of mobility and complex disabilities. She advocated for accessibility in sport, mentored new athletes, and organized events.[11]
Lorraine was an advocate for brain injuries. She authored a blog titled Insider Out, which she used as a platform to raise awareness about the long-term effects of brain injuries. She reflected on the psychological and physical consequences of living with a traumatic brain injury. Her widely read posts discussed the limits of helmets in preventing concussions and the need for more robust mental health support in action sports.[14] [15]
She also contributed to the design of adaptive mountain bikes and WCMX wheelchairs[16], including models like the Orange Phase AD3.[12]
Death and legacy
[edit]Truong died in June 2025 at the age of 30, following long-term health challenges stemming from her injury. Her death was announced via an Instagram post on 12 June 2025. Tributes followed from across the cycling and disability community.[3]
She is remembered for her athletic accomplishments, resilience, and contributions to concussion education, adaptive sport, and athlete safety.
References
[edit]- ^ "Lorraine Truong Fundraiser 2016". Pinkbike. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b "A Life Shattered by Brain Injury: Lorraine Truong". Pinkbike. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b c "Former EWS Racer & Concussion Advocate Lorraine Truong Passes Away at 35". Pinkbike. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b "Lorraine Truong Official Website". Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "A Day in the Life of Lorraine Truong – BMC 2015". Pinkbike. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Lorraine Truong Portrait (Archived)". Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Brain Injuries in Mountain Biking: Are We Doing Enough?". Pinkbike. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "EWS Racer with Brain Injury Seeking Help With Medical Bills". MBR. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "First WCMX session – 31 May 2018". Instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Backflip and front flip to airbag – 27 October 2018". Instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b "WCMX (Archived Overview)". Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b "Orange Phase AD3 Adaptive Electric Mountain Bike". New Atlas. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Lorraine Truong Rides Again on Adaptive Orange Phase AD3". Pinkbike. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Insider Out – Words of a Brain-Injured Rider". Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Lorraine Truong: Athlete and Concussion Campaigner (1995–2025)". Singletrack World. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "New WCMX Chair". Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-13.