How former F1 and paralympic champ Alex Zanardi recovering after latest setback

In August 2022, a fire that broke out in Alex Zanardi's villa in Noventa Padovana that forced the Paralympic champion to be hospitalized in Vicenza for over two months. Zanardi had only returned home a few months ago, to continue his rehabilitation after another terrible accident that took place in 2020.

The head of the rehabilitation department of the Vicenza hospital, Giannettore Bertagnoni told reporters: "Our main objective was to stabilize Zanardi's general clinical conditions.", as reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano.

After 76 days, in September 2022, the champion was able to return home with his family, where he is continuing his rehabilitation program.

It's far from his firest brush with death. On June 19, 2020, Alex Zanardi had a serious accident while he was participating in a charity handbike relay in Tuscany.

Zanardi, after losing control of his handbike, collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Following the serious accident, he was transported to the Le Scotte hospital in Siena in a very serious condition. Upon arrival he underwent neurosurgical and maxillofacial surgery.

After several operations and hospitalizations, Zanardi's conditions had stabilized, so much so that the champion returned home with his family in December 2021.

But these were only the latest obstacles that the champion was forced to face in a life that had already undergone major upheavals. First of all, that fateful accident in 2001 that changed the course of his life.

Since then, Alex Zanardi has become a symbol of strength and resilience for the whole world of sport, an example of how life's hard trials can turn into an opportunity to improve, just as he did in 2001, following his first and dramatic accident.

It was September 15, 2001, 4 days after the September 11 attacks. Zanardi, a racing driver at the time, was competing in the CART championship at the Lausitzring circuit. With 13 laps to go, just coming out of his last pit stop, he lost control of his car. As he was doing so, Alex Tagliani suddenly collided with Zanardi in his Reynard Honda at very high speed, literally breaking it in two.

Alex Zanardi lost his legs instantly and risked bleeding to death, but the promptness of the rescuers miraculously managed to save him.

"I wanted to tell you that I broke but I won't bend, it's a tough race but I do my best to win it": these were the words released by Zanardi just one year after the accident, pronounced at the Autosprint golden helmets ceremony in 2002, according to Style Corriere.

In 2005, Alex Zanardi approached car racing again by competing in various championships including the Italian Superturismo Championship.

At the same time, Alex Zanardi also began participating in various Paralympic events specializing in handbike cycling. His invincible determination and desire to move forward has helped him win several world and European Paralympic titles.

His words, spoken during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London in 2012, moved everyone: "My name is Alex Zanardi and I'm a pilot", his comment taken up by Formula Passion.

In that edition of the Paralympic Games he won two gold medals and one silver in handbike cycling. Subsequently, in the Rio 2016 Games, he continued to accumulate victories with two gold medals and one silver.

In the handbike cycling discipline, Alex Zanardi managed to win sixteen golds, seven silvers and a bronze.

Prior to the 2001 crash, Zanardi hadn't had much luck as a racing driver. Born in 1966, his racing career began in the 80s, competing in various categories including Formula 3 and Formula 3000.

His big break came in 1991, when he joined the Jordan team as a Formula 1 driver. In 1993, he then moved to Lotus, without obtaining important results.

In 1996 he decided to launch himself in the CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) series, now known as the IndyCar Series, where he managed to win two consecutive championships, in 1997 and 1998.

During that time, he proved his talent on the track with his aggressive driving and overtaking skills right up until 2001, the tragic year that forever marked his life as a pilot.

Alex Zanardi's story of courage and determination has inspired many people, not only in the world of sport. The outstanding champion managed to prove to everyone more than once that even the most seemingly impossible obstacles can be overcome in life.