Linebacker. Competitor. Survivor.

Derek Loccident had just begun to live his dream of playing college football at the University of Central Oklahoma when in 2018, he experienced a devastating train accident that led to the loss of his left foot and leg below the knee. At first, he believed his athletic career was over, but two months after his hospital discharge, he began dedicating himself to his rehabilitation process, and ultimately was able to rejoin his team back on the gridiron.

“One of my proudest moments was being able to make a return back to football and perform at a high level,” he says. “I felt like I showed a lot of resilience and I learned a lot about myself.”

After his last football season ended, another coach at the university encouraged Derek to try running track, and he found he was able to achieve elite-level sprinting times. His first competition was at the Endeavor Games, which were hosted on his college’s campus. He then turned his full attention toward track and field, and in 2023, competed at the U.S. Paralympics National Championships, earning a silver medal in the Long Jump. He followed his medal-winning performance with another silver medal at the Paris Para Athletics World Championships, where he placed second only to the “Blade Jumper” – renowned Long Jump Paralympic Champion, World Record-holder and fellow Team Össur member Markus Rehm.

“Being able to say I’m a member of Team Össur is such a milestone in my career, and I love being part of a brand that has similar traits and qualities to the ones I hold for myself,” he says. “Össur’s technology has improved my life by allowing me to start walking and then running soon after my amputation, and to get back to performing my daily tasks with limited pain or discomfort.”

Today, the Team Össur and Paralympic Team USA member embodies the definition of living a Life Without Limitations; five years after his traumatic amputation, he’s already played NCAA Division II-level collegiate football and now is in a full-time pursuit of Paralympic glory. His goal is to qualify to compete in an astounding five events – including long jump, 100m, 200m, javelin and discus – at the Paris Paralympic Games later this year.

Despite his exceptional recovery and notable athletic accomplishments in a short period of time, Derek admits that life still poses its challenges. At such times, he is grateful for the support of loving family members, his prosthetist and clinical team, and other members of the Össur Family.