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LOGO Calendar 2026 – October: Alex Zanardi
Some people race to win. Others race to live. Alex Zanardi, born in Bologna on 23 October 1966, belongs to the latter. Racing driver, Paralympic athlete and symbol of resilience and rebirth, his story extends far beyond the boundaries of sport.
At the age of fourteen his father gave him his first kart, setting in motion a career driven by speed and passion. At just sixteen he finished third in the Italian championship, before going on to win both the European and Italian karting titles.
In 1988 he made his debut in Formula 3, and two years later came close to winning the Italian title. It was the beginning of a rise that would lead him to Formula One, racing first for Jordan, and later for Lotus and Williams.
Disappointed with his experience in F1, in 1996 he flew to the United States, where he found his true sporting fulfilment in the CART championship. In 1997 and 1998 he secured two consecutive CART titles, becoming a legend of American open-wheel racing. But once again, fate had other plans.
The accident that changed everything
On 15 September 2001, during a CART race at Germany’s Lausitzring, Zanardi lost control of his car and was struck by another single-seater. The impact was devastating. He lost both legs. His life seemed to fade in a matter of seconds – yet Alex’s heart kept beating. After weeks in hospital, against all expectations, he survived.
Just a few months later, during the “Golden Helmet” awards ceremony, he stood up from his wheelchair in front of the entire world. It was the symbol of a new beginning.
The accident did nothing to diminish Alex Zanardi’s determination to move forward and challenge his limits. If anything, this new condition marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of a great Italian champion.
In 2003, he returned to the very circuit where the accident had occurred to complete the 13 laps he had never finished. Not only did he complete them – he set lap times that would have placed him among the fastest drivers on the track.
From that moment a new career began, this time in handcycling. With the same competitive drive, he rose to the very top of world paracycling:
- A Paralympic gold medal at London 2012 in the H5 time trial.
- Two gold medals and one silver at Rio 2016, across individual events and relay.
- Record-breaking performances in Ironman competitions, the extreme endurance events combining swimming, cycling and wheelchair racing.
At the age of 50, in 2018, he completed the Ironman in under nine hours, setting a world record
In June 2020, during a charity event in Tuscany, Zanardi suffered another extremely serious accident while riding his handbike. He underwent multiple operations and began a long process of rehabilitation.
Today he is able to communicate with his eyes and recognises his loved ones. At his side, as always, are Daniela, his wife, and Niccolò, his son
A hero beyond sport
Alex Zanardi is far more than an extraordinary athlete. He is a symbol of resilience, humanity and belief in life. He has shown that it does not matter how many times you fall – what matters is getting back up again, every time, with a smile.
“You cannot choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you react.”
And Alex Zanardi chose to keep racing – even when the road ahead seemed to have come to an end.