Twelve years on, an inspiration and legend lives, still winning....
Over the last month I have taken up running and I am loving it. With a young daughter, 9-5 job, 45 minute each way drive/commute, the late night fresh air and peace is blissful. Tonight I completed week 4 of my program and when I was pounding the pavement, a certain event and person crossed my mind and entered my thoughts.
Over the last month I have taken up running and I am loving it. With a young daughter, 9-5 job, 45 minute each way drive/commute, the late night fresh air and peace is blissful. Tonight I completed week 4 of my program and when I was pounding the pavement, a certain event and person crossed my mind and entered my thoughts.
Zanardi in CGR Photo: autoweek.com This week we marked the twelfth anniversary of one of our generations worst days, a day which would shape the world for the next decade and possibly beyond. For many motor racing fans worldwide, this Sunday will also mark a day that shook our sport to it's core. Sunday will mark a day we lost a legend, more than once, and we almost lost him forever. I can recall exactly where I was when I seen the news of his accident on Eurosport News and the pictures that then followed. His recovery over the days and months that followed helped enhance his legend and that story is well known. The most incredible details continues to baffle me; having to be resuscitated seven times and having only 2 pints of blood left in his body on arrival at hospital, he still survived against the worst odds ever imaginable.
Reunited with Chip Photo: motorsport.com The Alex Zanardi that somehow survived that accident in Germany twelve years ago may look different on the outside, but on the inside he's still the same easy go lucky Italian who refuses to acknowledge how talented and inspirational he is.
His on track successes and reputation continue to be a benchmark for the few old guard and current generation of drivers. However his persona, infectious personality, humble character and refusal to give up, refusal to accept that he can't, is unmatched and will not be matched, I don't think ever.
His on track successes and reputation continue to be a benchmark for the few old guard and current generation of drivers. However his persona, infectious personality, humble character and refusal to give up, refusal to accept that he can't, is unmatched and will not be matched, I don't think ever.
Champion again Photo: Getty Images It is chapter two of the Zanardi story which continues to overshadow what came before his life was changed forever. Tell the story to your friends and it would seem to be a work of fiction, but this man is as real as they come and he continues to write his own remarkable story. Two weeks ago he became wheelchair time trial world champion to add to his Paralympic gold in the same event. This week also marked one year since Alex celebrated his double Paralympic Gold Medals and provided us with the now iconic image of him lifting his hand cycle aloft in victory at the ripe old age of 45.
Through his actions since the events of 15 September 2001 Alex continues to provide inspiration for both fans and non fans of our sport. Despite all his successes on four wheels and three, he continues to play down what he does as ordinary, not extraordinary. He is a true role model in every sense.
His recovery and continued self penned Hollywood story is possibly the best work of non fiction I have ever seen, read or heard. Twelve years on, the 12 is still king, beating all challengers at everything he does. The legend lives on.
Through his actions since the events of 15 September 2001 Alex continues to provide inspiration for both fans and non fans of our sport. Despite all his successes on four wheels and three, he continues to play down what he does as ordinary, not extraordinary. He is a true role model in every sense.
His recovery and continued self penned Hollywood story is possibly the best work of non fiction I have ever seen, read or heard. Twelve years on, the 12 is still king, beating all challengers at everything he does. The legend lives on.
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