Salute Alex Zanardi: From F1 to Gold Medal & Feeding a Pig on Mars Bars

This remarkable human being is a paralympic champion at the age of forty-five. 

What makes his backstory one of the strongest of #london2012 is his transition from Formula 1 to the Paralympics podium.

Winning celebration of Gold Medal H4 Time Trial

On the piste

He clearly has a thrill for all things speedy, with his website listing off-roading, karting, skiing and boating as being particular passions: the last giving rise to his father's quip that the expense was "like feeding a pig on mars bars". (see Official Website alex-zanardi.com for gallery and more on his passions and career)

With Johnny Herbert in F1 days

His 'magical adventure' to London2012 came after a horrifying crash in 2001, when he admits to losing control whilst leading the race as he was coming out of his final pit stop in a Champ Car accident at the Lausitzring near Dresden in Germany. 

The first car managed to avoid him, but the second (Canadian Alex Tagliani who suffered minor injuries) did not, and after the 200+mph crash Zinardi underwent a three hour surgical operation that resulted in the amputation of both lower limbs above the knee, and a sedated coma. 

Immediate aftermath of the 200mph crash

Quite clearly this remarkable man displayed character, doubtless spending much time in rehabilitation and then ultimately reconditioning as he was able to resume modified vehicle racing until 2009 when he embarked on an adventure that had him earmarking the 2012 Paralympics. 

Whilst Zanardi insisted that his career had afforded him some degree of comfort, his need for speed and competition ultimately led him back, via the marathons of New York, Venice & Rome amongst others, to a place at a venue he knew well from his previous incarnation as a racing driver in the 1990s, and then as a member of the Touring Car series in an adapted vehicle.

It was at Brands Hatch on 5th September that he succeeded in the H4 Handbike 16km time trial event, clinching gold in a carbon vehicle he had even designed and built, suggesting that his individual seat was a 'Cinderella shoe'! (BBC Sport Report & Guardian Sport article) 

He found the course more hilly than he recalled when driving with an engine behind him, but ultimately succeeded lifting his bike above his head on the circuit in triumph having beaten his closest rival by more than 27 seconds to clock a time of 24 minutes 50.22 seconds. His last word on the success was that : "I am Alex Zinardi, I always have to come up with something at the end of a race - I have a bit of a big head".

He rode again on September 7th in the 64km and showed a turn of speed on the final corner to overtake South African Ernt Van Dyk and pull away from the peleton of eight riders to clinch a second gold medal.

He has an opportunity to clinch the third medal in the team relay on Saturday September 8th!

What a comeback. What a career. Truly a remarkable character, and a credit to his family, his friends, to sport, and to human spirit.