Former f1 driver zanardi wins third paralympics gold abc news. Aug 26, 2012 eleven years after losing his legs in an horrific crash, the former f1 driver is a gold medal contender at the london paralympics sun 26 aug 2012 16. The driver had found his new calling and threw himself into training and competing in the sport with london 2012 paralympic games being the ultimate aim. Sep 05, 2012 ex formula one driver, who lost legs in crash, wins paralympic gold in handcycling alex zanardi, who is from italy, lost both legs in 2001 race car crash in germany. Racing aces like michael schumacher, lewis hamilton and dale earnhardt jr. The former formula one driver took the paralympic gold medal wednesday in paracycling a. Former f1 driver alex zanardi wins third paralympic gold. He won two cart championship titles in north america during the late 1990s. Exformula one driver alex zanardi, who almost died in. The former formula one driver took the paralympic gold medal wednesday in paracycling a hand cycle powered by the arms at the brands hatch race. Racing at the olympic stadium in rio held a special meaning for the 49yearold zanardi. Eleven years after losing his legs in an horrific crash, the former f1 driver is a gold medal contender at the london paralympics sun 26 aug 2012 16. May 19, 2012 alessandro alex zanardi, born october 23, 1966, is an italian exformula one driver who is better known for his dominance of cart series during the late 1990s.
Nearly 15 years to the day that he lost his legs in a crash, former f1 star alex zanardi is overcome with emotion as he wins paralympics handcycling gold. Zanardi is a former racing driver, who won championship auto racing teams cart titles in 1997 and 1998 before signing a threeyear contract as a formula 1 driver. Alex zanardi was one of the fastest men on four wheels winning two cart championships that is, until a devastating accident in 2001 cost him his legs. It was zanardis third gold after triumphing twice in london 2012. With the scramble for the remaining f1 seats truly underway for the 2014 season, many drivers. Alex zanardi unstoppable race cars, indy cars, racing. Former f1 racing driver alex zanardi wins paralympic handcycling gold this article is more than 7 years old. Seventeen events were contested on the track, and 33 on the road. Sailing is one of the very few sports in which ablebodied sailors and disabled sailors, of all ages, can participate on equal terms. And just five years later the ex formula one driver found himself the winner of two paralympic gold and one silver medals fittingly at the brands hatch race track. Exf1 driver alex zanardi wins gold at 2012 paralympics.
The story of the exformula one driver, even among paralympic triumphs of humanity over disaster, is one of the most heartwarming tales of london 2012. Rio paralympics archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. The italian, 45, took victory in the 64km h4 handcycling road race at brands. Ex f1 star alex zanardi overcome with emotion as he wins.
The mens time trial h4 road cycling event at the 2012 summer paralympics took place on september 5 at brands hatch. Sep 08, 2012 the story of the ex formula one driver, even among paralympic triumphs of humanity over disaster, is one of the most heartwarming tales of london 2012. F1 drivers 2020 hamilton, verstappen, vettel and more. Former f1 racing driver alex zanardi wins paralympic.
Alex zanardi wins second paralympics handcycling gold. Double paralympic champion and ex formula 1 driver alex zanardi claimed his maiden paracycling world title with time trial victory in canada. Ex cart driver alex zanardi wins paralympic gold 15 years after losing legs nearly 15 years to the day he lost his legs in an auto racing crash in germany, italian athlete alex zanardi captured a. Sep 05, 2012 the former formula one driver took the paralympic gold medal wednesday in paracycling a hand cycle powered by the arms at the brands hatch race track, posting a time of 24 minutes, 50. The story of the ex formula one driver, even among paralympic triumphs of humanity over disaster, is one of the most heartwarming tales of london 2012. Former racing driver alex zanardi, who lost both of his legs in a crash in 2001, just won his third paralympic gold medal. He won the cart championship in 1997 and 1998 in north america. He won two golds and a silver at the 2012 paralympics in london. Alex zanardi sings the italian national anthem after winning gold at the paralympic games. Competitors use a threewheeled frame to provide support as they race around the track. Ex racing driver alex zanardi has won a second handcycling paralympic gold after a thrilling sprint finish. Exformula 1 driver alex zanardi claims world paracycling.
It was the italians third gold and fourth medal overall at the paralympics he triumphed in the mens individual h4 time trial and road race at the 2012 london games pictured adding to the six world championship gold medals he has achieved since moving into handcycling in 2007. There was an article in f1 racing magazine about him a while ago, it is really impressive what he has been able to do since his accident. Sep 05, 2012 london ap alex zanardi just loves to race. Munich former formula one driver and paralympic handbike champion alessandro zanardi will return to auto racing this year. Alex zanardi, exf1 pilot and wtcc driver for bmw, wins. It will be an 11day event where 4,350 disabled athletes from 176 different countries will compete in the spirit of the paralympic core values.
Sep 15, 2016 ex formula one driver alex zanardi has won his third paralympics gold medal, a day before the 15th anniversary of the champ car crash that cost the italian both legs and nearly his life. London stirling moss, a daring, speedloving englishman regarded as the greatest formula one driver never to win the world championship. Outlined below are details of how people may like to get involved with disabled racing. Alex zanardi, ex f1 pilot and wtcc driver for bmw, wins paralympic gold in handcycle. Cycling at the 2016 summer paralympics consisted of 50 events in two main disciplines, track cycling and road cycling. Alex zanardi will make his dtm debut as a guest entry for bmw later this year in a oneoff appearance at misano in a specially adapted bmw m4 dtm. He returned to racing less than two years after the accident. Paralympic games winter, summer, past, future paralympics. The former formula one driver took the paralympic gold medal wednesday in paracycling a hand cycle powered by the arms at the brands hatch race track, posting a time of 24 minutes, 50. His family moved to the town of castel maggiore on the citys outskirts when he was four. The formula in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and cars must conform.
Sep 05, 2012 but alex zanardi just cant stop racing and now the former formula one driver will be vying for a paralympic medal wednesday, sept. Former f1 driver goes for gold in paralympic debut itv news. Fifteen years ago, italian racing driver alex zanardi. Sep 15, 2016 on the eve of the 15th anniversary since losing his legs in a motorsport accident, former formula 1 driver alex zanardi has won a gold medal in the paralympics. The italian former racing driver alex zanardi, who lost both his legs in a horrifying crash in 2001. See more ideas about racing, athlete and adaptive sports. Former f1 driver and double champ car champion alex zanardi has won gold at the paralympics 11 years after losing both legs in a horrific racing accident. Mar 24, 20 disabled athletes living life to the fullest by turning their disability into ability.
Cycling at the 2012 summer paralympics mens road time. British rider takes gold medal haul into double figures while italian ex racing driver who wins at kent circuit riding a handbike the first day of road cycling at the london 2012 paralympic games, held at the brands hatch motor racing circuit in kent yesterday, produced historic moments for two remarkable athletes at opposite ends of their. Alex zanardi won his third paralympic gold medal on wednesday, sept. Twotime formula one world champion fernando alonso suffered a scare in stage 10 of the dakar rally after rolling his car. Nearly 18 years after losing his legs in a horrific crash, 52yearold alex zanardi, a twotime cart series champion turned paralympian, is returning to an american racetrack for the first time. More recently, he has attracted widespread praise for his return to. The basis of the current proposal is to recognise racerunning as an athletics track. Ranking the 10 worst drivers in f1 history bleacher. He returned to cart in 2001, but a major crash in the 2001 american memorial resulted in the amputation of his legs. Sep 17, 2016 as an ex formula one driver and twotime cart champion, the then 34yearold was one of the top racers on the circuit and was vying for top spot in the race when the horror accident unfolded. The paralympics is a major event that has, over the years, had a great impact on disabled peoples lives, so i have high hopes for rio 2016. Stability is the name of the game for the 2020 season, with eight of the 10 formula 1 teams fielding unaltered lineups in their bid for grand prix glory.
Storyvideo posted december 9, 2016 in 2016 paralympics games by anna pitingolo. More recently he has attracted widespread praise for his racing comeback in the aftermath of a crash which resulted in him losing both legs. Sep 05, 2012 londonalex zanardi just loves to race. The highlyrated esteban ocon returns with renault after a year on the f1 sidelines, while williams nicholas latifi has the honour of being the sole rookie on the grid. Paralympic road cycling brands hatch, 58 september 2012. Exmotor racing champion alex zanardi won his first paralympic gold medals at the 2012 games in london alessandro alex zanardi, a titlewinning racing driver who lost both legs in an horrific crash but then reinvented himself as a champion paralympic athlete, was born on this day in 1966 in the small town of castel maggiore, just outside. Pretty amazing story, alex zanardi had lost both his legs in an accident during a f1 race, now he is winning gold in the olympics at age 45 ex race car driver zanardi wins gold in handcycle. Former formula 1 driver alex zanardi claims gold 15 years after losing his legs in crash. Alex zanardi racing again 18 years after losing his legs. It is one of the most prominent forms of paralympic athletics history. Sep 05, 2012 get all the latest updates on the pandemic.
He also had a less successful career as a formula one driver. In 2001 he was involved in a 200mph crash in the american memorial 500 cart race in germany, an accident that destroyed his vehicle and saw him lose both his legs, as well as nearly. Ex f1 racer zanardi wins cycling gold at london paralympics. I will be supporting zanardi, in fact i might go to brands to watch him. How exracing champ alex zanardi won the new york city. The incredible story of exformula 1 driver amputee alex. Former formula one driver alex zanardi of italy has won the gold medal in the 16kilometer 10mile handcycling time trial at the 2012 london paralympics.
Race car driver, paralympian alex zanardi redefines. Italian ex formula 1 driver alex zanardi wins his second paralympic gold in the handcycling road race at brands hatch. The main competitions take place at the summer paralympics which wheelchair racing and athletics has been a part of since 1960. An ex formula one driver, who lost his legs after a horrific crash in 2001, made a sensational return to brands hatch yesterday winning a gold medal in paralympics cycling. A former race car driver in the united kingdom has taken a major leap for transgender women on the ballet stage.
Alex zanardi has repeated his 2012 paralympic gold medal victory in the handcycling time trial today, just before the fifteenth anniversary of the horrific cart series racing crash that amputated. Exformula one driver alex zanardi, who lost legs in crash. Ex f1 star alex zanardi goes for paralympics gold a horror crash almost cut the racing driver in half. Nearly 15 years to the day he lost his legs in an auto racing crash in germany, italian athlete alex zanardi captured a gold medal at the rio paralympics. Alessandro zanardi is an italian professional racing driver and paracyclist. The former formula one driver took the paralympic gold medal in paracycling a hand cycle powered by the arms at the brands hatch race track, posting a time of 24 minutes, 50. Former formula one racer alex zanardi took the paralympic gold in paracycling earlier this week by laying down a time of 24. This race car driver went from near death to paralympic gold. Alex zanardi wins second handcycling paralympic gold at. Alex zanardi picked up his second gold medal of the rio paralympic games on friday in the handcycling mixed team relay race. But 2018 was far from being his best year as he failed to reach the podium at his home road world championships in maniago, italy. Former race car driver becomes transgender ballerina. Former f1 driver alex zanardi wins third paralympic gold medal.
Competitors compete in specialized wheelchairs which allow the athletes to reach speeds of 30 kmh 18. Lausitz on september 15 when canadian driver alex tagliani, racing at close to 200 mph, ran into zanardi. Race driver alex zanardi, a double amputee, wins gold at rio. On the eve of the 15th anniversary since losing his legs in a motorsport accident, former formula 1 driver alex zanardi has won a gold medal in the paralympics.
The venues were the rio olympic velodrome for track cycling in the barra cluster, and the flamengo park for the road cycling disciplines in the copacapana cluster. Excart driver alex zanardi wins paralympic gold 15. Those controls were really thought and realized for endurance racing, because in 2015 i took part to the 24 hours of spa, with bruno spengler and timo glock in the bmw z4, zanardi said. Apparently, you dont need arms to be a professional racing driver and competitive drifter. Sep 14, 2016 alex zanardi is not a devout man, but as he absorbed the reality of backtoback paralympic gold medals he could not help but entertain the idea of divine intervention. Ex formula one driver alex zanardi claims gold medal in hand cycling at the london 2012 paralympics. Nearly 15 years to the day he lost his legs in a racing crash in germany, italian athlete alex zanardi captured a gold medal at the rio paralympics. One year earlier, he had claimed the time trial h5 title and had taken silver in the road race h5 at the road worlds in pietermaritzburg, south africa.
Sep 05, 2012 former williams driver, who lost both legs in a crash in 2001, returned to brands hatch to win gold in his first paralympics esther addley wed 5 sep 2012 14. Bmw motorsport says the 47yearold italian will drive one of its. Alex zanardi was born in bologna, italy, son of dino and anna zanardi. Ex f1 star alex zanardi goes for paralympics gold a horror crash almost cut the racing driver in half but now hes back and bidding for glory in the. Watch the latest videos, see photos, and read top stories for all past and future paralympic games vancouver 2010, london 2012, sochi 2014, rio 2016, and more. Alex zanardi racing driver and paralympian italy on this day. Sep 04, 2012 the former formula one driver will vie for a paralympic medal wednesday, sept. Paralympic hopeful horse rider forgives the man who caused car crash by lindsay brown newsbeat reporter from the topic life. Ex f1 driver alexander zanardi to represent italy in the. Paracycling pits competitors against one another in handbike. Paralympic hopeful horse rider forgives the man who caused. His sister cristina was a promising swimmer prior to her death in an automobile collision in 1979.
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