Alex Zanardi: Ex-F1 driver and Paralympic champion dies aged 59

[ad_1] Zanardi returned to motorsport after his crash, profitable 4 instances for BMW within the World Touring Automotive Championship from 2005-09.

Along with his handcycling success on the Paralympics, he grew to become a 12-time world champion and received the lads's para-cycling race on the New York marathon in 2011.

Bologna-born Zanardi suffered severe head accidents in 2020 when he misplaced management of his handbike throughout a street race in Tuscany and crashed into an oncoming truck.

Components 1's governing physique the FIA mentioned , exterior Zanardi's "journey from life-changing accident to Paralympics gold medallist made him certainly one of sport's most admired rivals and a permanent image of braveness and willpower".

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned , exterior her nation had misplaced "an excellent champion and a unprecedented man, able to turning each trial of life right into a lesson in braveness, energy, and dignity".

She added: "Alex Zanardi knew the right way to get again within the sport each time, going through even the hardest challenges with willpower, readability, and a energy of spirit that was actually distinctive.

"Together with his sporting achievements, along with his instance, and along with his humanity, he gave all of us rather more than a victory: he gave hope, pleasure, and the energy to by no means surrender.

"On behalf of myself and the federal government, I lengthen my heartfelt ideas and the sincerest closeness to his household and to all those that liked him.

"Thanks for every little thing, Alex."

Zanardi received the H4 time trial and H4 street race at London 2012 and was chosen to be the Italy staff's flagbearer on the closing ceremony.

At Rio 2016, he received gold within the H5 time trial and relay.

The Worldwide Paralympic Committee known as Zanardi "a pioneer, icon and legend of the Paralympic motion".

It added: "His performances had been actually out of this world, engaged new followers to the Video games, and confirmed the world that something is feasible.

"The long-lasting image of him elevating his handcycle above his head in victory at London 2012 will go down in historical past as one of many nice sporting pictures. He will likely be remembered perpetually.

"Our ideas are along with his family and friends at this troublesome time."

Components 1 boss Stefano Domenicali described Zanardi as "an inspirational individual, as a human and as an athlete".

"He confronted challenges that will have stopped anybody, but he continued to look ahead, all the time with a smile and a cussed willpower that impressed us all," added Domenicali.