Former Formula 1 driver and multiple Paralympic champion, Alex Zanardi has died at the age of 59: his life was marked by exceptional sporting achievements and extraordinary resilience.
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Born in 1966, Zanardi quickly made a name for himself in motorsport.
Runner-up in Formula 3000 in 1989, he then moved up to Formula 1, where he raced for teams like Jordan, Minardi, and Lotus.
In 1996, he flew to the United States and joined the Champ Car championship, where he achieved glory with two titles in 1997 and 1998.
An exemplary determination
His return to Formula 1 in 1999, with Williams, did not meet the same success. In 2001, back in Champ Car, his career took a turn after a terrible accident at Lausitzring. Hit at high speed, he was seriously injured and had to have both legs amputated.
Far from giving up, Zanardi resumed competition as early as 2003 in touring cars, driving adapted vehicles. He won four victories in the world championship there. In 2006, he even achieved the feat of getting back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, a BMW Sauber, during private tests.
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Olympic champion
Subsequently, he began a new career in handbiking. He shone again by winning four gold medals and two silver medals at the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
On June 19, 2020, a new serious accident occurred: while riding his handbike, he was hit by a truck. After heavy surgeries, having partially lost his sight and hearing, he retained serious aftereffects and no longer made public appearances.
Alex Zanardi will remain an inspiring figure in sport, a symbol of courage and self-transcendence.
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