The legend that is Alex Zanardi

#22 · Aug 12, 2015

For those of you that don't know of him, I thought it was worth educating you.

My dad once told me "Never meet your heroes" but in the case of Alex Zanardi I think that's a moot point.

He was an F1 driver who then had great success in the US CART series before an ill fated move back to F1 in 1999. He moved back to Indycar racing in 2001 and sadly in a horiffic accident in Germany he lost both his legs at the knee.

I've respected this Man for a long long time - I remember watching a documentary years ago on his rehabilitation after that shunt which SHOULD have killed him.

He said then "What motivated me to walk again was to be able to carry my Son on my shoulders".

Now look at him. In the time since the accident he completed the 13 laps he didn't finish in that German Indycar race a year later, and ran fast enough to qualify 5th on the grid for the race. He then moved into the World Touring Car Championship where he was competitive and won a race outright.

More recently he turned to hand cycling and won 3 gold medals at the 2012 Olympics. He then competed in the Spa 24hr race a few weeks ago, and the week after won another world title in the hand cycling class

BMW Brand Ambassador Alessandro Zanardi wins the third gold medal in his third competition at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championship 2015.

Three competitions, three gold medals and three world titles: at the 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championship in Nottwil, Alessandro Zanardi celebrated a golden hat-trick. The BMW works driver and BMW Brand Ambassador also won today’s road race in the MH5 category (men’s hand-cycle). On Wednesday he won the team-relay with the Italian national team, and on Friday he successfully defended his world title in the time-trial.

Now, for the second time in his career, he has also been crowned world champion in the road race. His success is even more remarkable as Zanardi contested the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (BE) in his BMW Z4 GT3 last weekend, while his competitors were in their final preparations for the para-cycling races at Nottwil.

To conclude the world championships at Nottwil, the athletes tackled the 46.5-kilometre road race, completing three laps on the challenging course, which included exhausting uphill and fast downhill sections.

Exciting final spurt
The competition turned out to be a real thriller. When Zanardi entered the Nottwil stadium, where the final spurt towards the finish was contested, he was second, closely behind Dutch athlete Jetze Plat. In an exciting final sprint the duo fought for the world title with Zanardi crossing the line with a small advantage in front of his rival. In total, he completed the 46.5 kilometres in 1:29:21 hours. Plat finished second, his Dutch countryman Johan Reekers was third.

With his three wins at Nottwil, Zanardi now has a total of eight para-cycling world titles to his name. The results of this year’s UCI Para-cycling Road World Championship count towards qualifying for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Now, I like to think that most of the posters here are REAL racing fans and admire sportsmanship above anything else, well recently he competed in the Venice marathon and sacrificed his own (favourite) hopes of winning to help a young quadraplegic man whose dream it was to do the marathon finish the race.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/zanardi-pulls-tows-quadriplegic-end-hand-bike-marathon-162700890.html

Video clip of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8K4p9EoQxQ

Words fail me, and I know we could all learn something from this guy.

Alex, I am in complete awe of you...

littlesparrows · Aug 12, 2015

...., god damn sand in my eyes!

Gaz · Aug 12, 2015

Have never been a fan of Formula 1 or CART type of series personally so do have to say that I have paid little attention to these championships through the years but I did always take an interest in Zanardi and also Ayrton Senna and can distinctly remember being sick in the stomach when their incidents occurred.

Not sure why these two when others of the era were more 'popular' but just know that for some reason these two guys grabbed the imagination and that I always took an interest in their race and results.

Whilst we know the Senna story, Zanardi does seem to be somewhat forgotten in the minds of many which is a shame in many ways and even more so when his story is fully displayed for the world.

The story is one of sheer inspiration together with guts in the way that he took a risk to go to CART only to be involved in the horrendous incident that near claimed his life. But this pales to what was to follow as he not only fought to remain alive but then went on to race once again, compete and win Olympic Gold and then to stories such as that which have been posted.

The manner in which he accepted the fate, fought the damage and then clawed his way over the adversity is truly inspiring, never mind that he continues to show humility and concern for others such as the young guy in the marathon.

To cut it short, it is a shame that all to often we (myself included) get to see and recognise the truly great and inspirational characters of our dangerous motorsports only after they have experienced truly horrendous times and yet have gone on with their lives to the benefit of others without seeking the audulation, but because this is their nature.

Alex Zanardi, inspiration

Dr No · Aug 12, 2015

Yes and No.
All power to Alex for powering on.
But then I think of my welder mate who slapped a wall speedway racing and shoved his femur up into his lungs....
then started para cycling and qualified (with no money and .... all AIS support) for the 2000 ParaOlympic track events...
Or my other mate who spent countless hours training as the front rider for a blind rider in track sprints, also in 2000. Unpaid.
But srsly. Good on Alex. So many don't do what he does..

povol · Aug 12, 2015

Was a big fan of his racing exploits. He was cutting the corkscrew at Laguna Seca long before the GP boys.

https://youtu.be/cBthxGThBkc

Jumkie · Aug 12, 2015

I had followed CART because of Adrian Fernandez, a Mexican racer and later team owner. I was shocked to see Zanardi's crash when it happened and was actually reminded of it this weekend looking at Dan Wheldon's car at the Indy museum. I remember when he got back into the cockpit of an open wheel car to parade a few laps, I thought it was fantastic. I have two local venues where I used to watch CART and IndyCar, California Speedway and the Grand Prix of Long Beach. I lost interest in it when CART and IndyCar merged but I still have one distant eye on it. If ever I'm presented with the opportunity, I would love to see the Indy 500.

Regarding Zanardi as a man, I am impressed with his fight to make life meaningful. Like Wayne Rainey, these men really do seem a cut above other human beings and their accidents highlighted this aspect of their character. There was a contraption stationed outside one of the hospitalities that was engineered by KR for Mr. Rainey. Below is a picture. Its very cool. Wayne Rainey parks his wheel chair inside of it, the back lifts to secure the chair and he can take off on it like a bat out of heaven. Much cooler than the Popemobile and more likely the occupant will go to Heaven.

Gaz · Aug 12, 2015

Dr No said:
Yes and No.
All power to Alex for powering on.
But then I think of my welder mate who slapped a wall speedway racing and shoved his femur up into his lungs....
then started para cycling and qualified (with no money and .... all AIS support) for the 2000 ParaOlympic track events...
Or my other mate who spent countless hours training as the front rider for a blind rider in track sprints, also in 2000. Unpaid.
But srsly. Good on Alex. So many don't do what he does..

Totally agree DrNo.

There are many people as inspirational (have been fortunate in my life as I have had very very few seriously injured) but these 'everyday people' are often overlooked but just as inspirational.

For me, any person who suffers the level of injury as Zanardi, Rainey and the likes and continues on with life in a manner of 'do not feel sorry for me' is an inspiration (and yes, I have seen some become poor me people which saddens when there are people in far worse situations)

SuperManatee · Aug 12, 2015

It was a shame that his career was cut short. It takes a special quality to look up when your at such a low point. It's hard to make a stand and overcome your grief. He somehow found a way to sever his doubts and misgivings. Im stumped as to where he found the willpower to put his best foot forward.
Nice update,Im glad to see he's still rolling with the punches

Jumkie · Aug 12, 2015

greghumphreysart · Sep 4, 2015

Wonderfully inspirational.

I love it how he was spurred by the little man. Before any other aspirations.

Thanks for the share. Lovely read.

Dr No · Sep 4, 2015

Revisting this thread reminded me of Takuma Aoki.
He had that crazy powered wheelchair that was painted up in his Rheos helmet colours.
Races cars now.
Another champ

Jumkie · Oct 3, 2015

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Dr No · Oct 3, 2015

Sooo, you're interested in the spikey condoms and vibrating ....-rings that rafayazid is offering, Jum??

Arrabbiata1 · Nov 11, 2015

Dr No said:
Revisting this thread reminded me of Takuma Aoki.
He had that crazy powered wheelchair that was painted up in his Rheos helmet colours.
Races cars now.
Another champ

Dr No · Nov 12, 2015

And the tallest dude was the 125 Champ....

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The legend that is Alex Zanardi

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