Former F1 driver, Alex Zanardi, has won a Paralympic gold medal in paracycling with a timing of 24:50.22. Upon victory, the Italian celebrated by sliding out of his cycle and lifting it over his head with one hand and the other punching into the air.
Alex Zanardi is a person who doesn't bow down to setbacks. About 11 years ago, Zanardi was competing in a CART race in Lausitz, Germany when a horrific accident claimed his pair of legs besides loosing over 70% of his blood before he got to the hospital. He was in coma for three days and his heart stopped more than once.
After the accident, Zanardi learnt how to use prosthetic legs.
"You don't know how many times I fell just taking ridiculous small steps. It was bloody hard," he told the BBC.
He took up paracycling later on to keep himself fit. Zanardi began to compete in the sport in 2007 at the New York City marathon when he was invited to attend the event's pasta party. He decided that if he was going, he should take part. He came in fourth in the race and subsequently came in first in 2011 at the same event.
Zanardi's journey to Paralympic gold was not easy too. He crashed his favorite bike a few weeks before the actual race. I hope Zanardi’s story can inspire all of us to never give up on ourselves no matter the kind of difficulties we are facing.
