Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi won his third Paralympic gold medal. He came first in the 20km H5 hand-cycling road time trial in Rio de Janeiro. Zanardi won two Paralympic titles in London four years ago.
Alex Zanardi claimed the third gold a day before the 15th anniversary of his horrific crash at the Lauzitzring circuit. On September 15th 2001 he was leading the Champ Car race there but lost control of his car. Alex Tagliani ran into Zanardi at more than 350kph.
After the crash Alex’s heart stopped seven times. There was only a litre of blood left in his body. Zanardi was given the last rites but he survived and not just that. The Italian was back at the track a year and a half after the crash.
Alex Zanardi: “I had to raise my eyes and thank God”
“Normally I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about. But today is too much. I had to raise my eyes and thank him. I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege”, Zanardi told NBC television. “Where today you have the Olympic Stadium, on that piece of land they used to have an Indy Car circuit, which is where I won my very first pole position – for a romantic guy like me this is quite special.”
“Even my accident, what happened to me, became the biggest opportunity of my life. All the things I am doing today are related to my new condition. When you find yourself in a certain situation you have to identify where you want to go and focus on what you can achieve on that given day. Whether it is a small thing or big one, step-by-step you can make things happen.”
Zanardi has won eight world titles since first racing a hand bike in 2009. He completed the 20k course in 28 minutes 36.81 seconds – less than three seconds quicker than silver medallist Stuart Tripp of Australia.
Another gold medal for a true champion: Alex Zanardi. @lxznr you’re good as gold! pic.twitter.com/uSjFsZpCwq
— Emerson Fittipaldi (@emmofittipaldi) 14 September 2016
