Zanardi, the Ironman of impossible challenges

Alex Zanardithe man who transformed the impossible into ‘possible’ with his great willpower, rising from two terrible accidents. Alex Zanardi, the athlete with a thousand lives among the strongest and most successful of the last decades, the man who transformed the perception of disability in Italy. Alex passed away last night at the age of 59, suddenly and “peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends”.

Alexander Leone

Registered in the Bologna registry office on 23 October 1966 with his full name, ‘Alessandro Leone’, Zanardi immediately became Alex. From Formula 1 to handbike, from the role of testimonial to that of television host of the ‘Challenges’ programme. He lived at least two sporting livesthe one in the world of Formula 1 racing cars and then the exciting one in the Paralympic world whose culture he contributed decisively to spreading, in Italy and around the world. He was a great communicator, a man capable of reaching everyone with simplicity and strength. Its immediacy, its authenticity and its humanity will remain an indelible heritage.

Alex has always loved adrenaline, speed

He has always loved racing, the asphalt, despite the death of his older sister in a car accident in 1979. At 14, his first kart was given to him by his father. After the double experience in Formula 1, the first between 1991 and 1994 (Jordan, Minardi, Lotus, and the second in 1999 (Williams) for a total of 44 Grands Prix (only one point in the World Championship, at the Brazilian GP in 1993), the champion from Bologna who passed away yesterday evening at the age of 59, wrote memorable pages in American motor racing, winning two Cart titles in 1997 and 1998.

His exploits

His overtaking and his aggressive and fearless driving style thrilled the public, making him one of the most beloved figures in American motorsport. Among the breathtaking overtakings, the most iconic and memorable will remain the one up Bryan Herta to Laguna Seca.

The accident in Germany

His life changed radically after the accident 15 September 2001. Al Lausitzring, German circuit across Dresden and Cottbus, a dramatic, terrible accident. After losing control of his Honda Reynard which splashed towards the barriers, he was violently hit by the Canadian’s car Alex Tagliani: the impact caused thebilateral lower limb amputation by Alex. What saved Alex’s life was the promptness of Formula Cart’s head of medical staff, Steve Olvey, who managed to plug his femoral arteries to stop the bleeding.

New life

For many, this would have marked the end of their racing career, but for Zanardi it was the beginning of a new chapter. After months of surgeries and rehabilitation, Zanardi returned to sport, not to cars but tohandbike becoming an icon of Paralympic sport. “If I hadn’t had the accident where I lost my legs I wouldn’t be so happy now,” he often repeated about his new life. The driver from Bologna returned to the Lausitzring and even managed to complete the last 13 laps of that damned race with the controls on the steering wheel.

The handbike

Driving a car he won one more World Touring Car race, then the Italian Super Touring Championship. He discovered the handbike thanks to a friend, Vittorio Podesta, Experienced paracyclist. In 2007 he participated in the 2007 New York Marathon, finishing in fourth place. At London 2012 Paralympics won two golds (time trial and H4 category road race) and a silver (relay) like those of four years later, in Rio de Janeiro (gold in the time trial and mixed relay, silver in the road race).

The 12 world titles also remain on the board

In Italy and internationally, Zanardi became a public figure whose words carried weight. He was a regular presence on television, a speaker and an advocate for inclusion and accessibility. His life was often cited as a case study in resilience, but it resisted being reduced to a simple narrative. He insisted on being seen as an athlete, a competitor, and a person who had simply adapted to new circumstances. On June 19, 2020,

The accident in Pienza

Zanardi was the victim of a new, terrible accident along the state road 146 of Chiancianoin Pienza, a collision with a heavy vehicle while he was taking part, on a handbike, in one of the stages of the ‘Obiettivo tricolore’ charity relay. For several weeks at the ‘Scotte’ hospital in Siena he fought between life and death following the serious head injuries. Stabilized, returned home in December 2021, they followed almost six years of silence, come Michael Schumacher, the great champion he had encountered several times throughout his life, including in car racing.

In 2022, a fire in the photovoltaic system of his home put the machinery that kept him alive at risk. Now the sudden news of Alex’s passing. Italian sport, from Cip to Coni, has ordered a minute’s silence in all competitions for this weekend’s sporting events. “When in a race you realize that you have given everything, absolutely everything, hold on for five more seconds, because that’s when the others can’t take it anymore”, Zanardi once said. He did it until the end.