LAMAMIMET

Alex Zanardi was born on 23 October 1966 in Bologna, Italy. He began karting as a teenager and progressed through Italian Formula 3 and Formula 3000, winning the latter in 1991. He entered Formula One in 1991, driving for teams such as Lotus and Jordan, and later achieved his greatest success in the CART series, winning back‑to‑back championships in 1997 and 1998 with 15 race victories.

In 2001, Zanardi suffered a horrific crash at the American Memorial race in Texas that resulted in the amputation of both his legs. Defying expectations, he returned to motorsport in touring car competitions and later took up handcycling, representing Italy at the Paralympic Games. He won two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympics and added further gold and silver medals at the 2016 Rio Games, becoming a celebrated figure in adaptive sport.

Zanardi remained active in both racing and advocacy for disabled athletes until his sudden death on 1 May 2026, which was reported by major news outlets. His legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and achievement across both motor racing and Paralympic sport.