Former race car driver and Paralympic gold medallist Alex Zanardi has passed away at the age of 59.
Zanardi’s family released a statement confirming that he died on Friday night (May 1). “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly on the evening of yesterday, May 1,” read the statement.
“Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. The family sincerely thanks everyone who has shown support in these hours and asks for respect for their grief and privacy at this time of mourning. Information regarding the funeral will be shared at a later date.”
- Zanardi lost both his legs after a 2001 crash at Lausitzring
- He returned to racing, competing in DTM, World Touring Car Championship and more
- He also won six Paralympic Games medals
Alex Zanardi: 1966-2026
Zanardi is celebrated as one of motorsport’s most extraordinary figures – his journey marked by triumph, tragedy and an almost unbelievable comeback. Through the 1990s, he raced in F1 for teams like Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams. But it is America’s CART championship (now IndyCar) where he enjoyed great success, claiming back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998.
Tragedy struck in 2001, when a catastrophic crash during a CART race at Lausitzring resulted in both his legs being amputated. This wasn’t the end of his racing career, though. Following rehab, he returned to car racing less than two years after the accident. He went on to race in multiple series, including the World Touring Car Championship, DTM and even the Daytona 24 Hours, collecting several wins over the years.
But motorsport was only half the story. Zanardi took up handcycling with the same ferocious competitive spirit. He won four gold medals and two silver medals across the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. In addition to his Paralympic medals, he also won 12 gold medals at the world championships.
In 2020, Zanardi suffered another serious accident during a charity relay in Tuscany. He suffered severe head and facial injuries after his handbike collided with a truck. Zanardi finally returned home after over a year of treatment. In the time that followed, he remained out of the public eye until news of his death emerged.