Alessandro “Alex” Zanardi Dies At 59, Family Says He Passed Away Peacefully

Italian racing driver and Paralympic champion Alessandro “Alex” Zanardi died at the age of 59, with multiple outlets citing a family announcement that did not specify the cause of death.

“Alex Zanardi, the Italian Formula One driver who became a Paralympic cycling champion after losing both legs in an accident, has died aged 59, his family announced”

Al Jazeera

Eurosport reported that “Alessandro Zanardi est décédé à l'âge de 59 ans” and said his family announced the death “sans préciser les raisons du décès.”

Al Jazeera

The Drive said Zanardi passed away on May 1 and that “The exact cause of death was not revealed,” while DW said his family said he died “suddenly” and did not go into details on the cause.

In a statement carried by The Drive, Zanardi’s family said, “Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends,” and asked that “their grief and privacy be respected during this period of mourning.”

Sky News also carried the family’s wording, saying, “Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the affection of those closest to him.”

ESPN likewise reported that the death was confirmed and that it “sparked an outpouring of tributes,” while The Guardian said his family announced the passing “which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, 1 May.”

Across the coverage, outlets also linked the timing to the family’s language about suddenness and peace, even as they differed on whether the death was described as occurring “yesterday evening” or “Friday night.”

Zanardi’s death drew attention to a career that spanned Formula 1, American open-wheel racing, and Paralympic cycling after life-changing injuries.

Eurosport said he was born “le 23 octobre 1966 à Bologne,” became a Formula 1 driver in 1991 after “sept années dans le karting,” and competed in “44 Grand Prix” for “Jordan, Minardi, Lotus et Williams,” scoring “qu'un seul point” at the GP du Brésil en 1993.

BBC

DW described him as a “double amputee” who had severe cranial injuries in a 2020 road accident and said he was offered a drive with Chip Ganassi Racing in CART, where he “won the championship in 1997 and 1998.”

The Guardian similarly said his life took a dramatic turn in September 2001 when he was involved in a high-speed crash during a CART race in Germany that led to the amputation of both legs.

ESPN added that he competed in Formula 1 for “five seasons” and had a best finish of sixth at the “1993 Brazilian Grand Prix,” before the 2001 crash.

The Drive said that after the “horrific, near-death crash at the Lausitzring on September 15, 2001,” he returned to racing in the World Touring Car Championship and later became a Paralympic champion.

Al Jazeera emphasized that he became a Paralympic cycling champion “after losing both legs in an accident,” and said he won “two gold medals at the 2012 London Games and two more in Rio de Janeiro.”

The Olympics outlet said he was a “Four-time Paralympic gold medallist in Para cycling and Formula 1 driver,” and described his Paralympic record as “six medals overall” across London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Multiple outlets revisited the 2001 crash at the Lausitzring as the defining turning point in Zanardi’s life and career.

“Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi, a decorated Italian race driver and later para-cyclist, has died suddenly at the age of 59, his family said in a statement on Saturday”

DW

Eurosport said that in 2001, “sur l'ovale du Lausitzring, en Allemagne,” Zanardi was “victime d'un terrible accident” after being hit by “le Canadien Alexandre Tagliani, lancé à 320 km/h.”

It added that Zanardi “a alors perdu l'usage de ses deux jambes” but “a repris le volant de sa monoplace, adaptée à son handicap, pour parcourir symboliquement les treize tours qu'il lui manquait le jour de l'accident.”

The Drive described the crash as “horrific” and said it “claimed both of his legs,” while DW said he suffered a life-changing crash at the Lausitzring in Germany in 2001, with details of how he spun and was struck by another car moving at full speed.

Sports Illustrated said Zanardi’s legs were amputated on impact and that he was placed in an induced coma, while also noting that he returned to the cockpit in specially modified cars in the World Touring Car Championship.

Sky News said he “lost both of his legs in a racing crash in September 2001” and described how, during recovery, he designed his own prosthetics and learned to walk again.

Al Jazeera said his car had stalled after a spin and was struck “at a speed of more than 300km/h (186mph),” and that he still went on to become “one of the best-known figures in Paralympic sports.”

The Race described the crash as occurring in 2001 at Lausitz and said “as both of his legs had to be amputated,” while also stating that after rehab he returned to racing and won the Italian touring car title and several races in World Touring Cars.

The coverage also returned to Zanardi’s 2020 accident, which multiple outlets tied to serious head injuries and years of treatment.

Eurosport said that in 2020 he was “de nouveau été victime d'un grave accident en étant percuté par un camion lors d'une course paracycliste en Italie,” and that he “a subi de graves blessures à la tête” and “a dû suivre un traitement pendant plusieurs années.”

Eurosport

DW described the 2020 incident as a road accident when riding his handbike in Siena in northern Italy, saying he “suffered severe cranial injuries” and that his family did not provide details on the cause of death.

Al Jazeera said the June 2020 crash happened “in June 2020” when his handbike crashed into an oncoming truck during a race in Tuscany, and it said he suffered “serious head injuries” and “only returned home 18 months later.”

The Guardian said he was “seriously injured after being struck by a truck while competing in a charity para-cycling relay in Tuscany,” and said he “spent years undergoing treatment.”

Sports Illustrated said he collided with a truck while hand cycling in Italy and “remained in the hospital for 18 months.”

The Drive said the June 2020 accident involved him “crash head-on into a truck,” and that he was “airlifted to a nearby hospital” and had to undergo “a series of surgeries,” remaining in intensive care for an extended period.

Olympics said he suffered another serious accident on his handbike on “June 19, 2020,” losing control during a charity relay in Tuscany and colliding with a truck, and that after “more than a year of treatment” he returned home.

Zanardi’s death prompted tributes from motorsport leaders, Italian political figures, and sports bodies, with outlets quoting statements that emphasized courage, determination, and inspiration.

“Eurosport Disparition l Alessandro Zanardi, ancien pilote de F1 et athlète paralympique, est décédé à l'âge de 59 ans Par Alessandro Zanardi, ancien pilote de Formule 1 devenu athlète paralympique, est mort vendredi à l’âge de 59 ans”

Eurosport

DW reported that the FIA World Motorsport Federation called him an “enduring symbol of courage and determination,” and it quoted F1 president Stefano Domenicali praising him as “truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete.”

Il Mattino

Sky News carried Domenicali’s statement in full, including “He was truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete,” and added that he “will always carry with me his extraordinary strength.”

The Guardian quoted the FIA on X, saying: “The FIA is saddened to learn of the passing of Alex Zanardi, the former Formula 1 driver, two-time CART champion whose journey from life-changing accident to Paralympics gold medallist made him one of sport’s most admired competitors and an enduring symbol of courage and determination.”

Multiple outlets also quoted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with Sky News attributing a message on X that began, “Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man,” and ESPN quoting Meloni’s Instagram language: “Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every test of life into a lesson in courage, strength and dignity.”

Al Jazeera added that Cordiano Dagnoni, head of the Italian Cycling Federation, said Zanardi “transformed the culture of our country, bringing joy and happiness to those fortunate enough to know him, and hope to so many in Italy and around the world.”

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) also featured in the reporting, with Sky News saying CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio called for a minute’s silence and quoted him saying, “We’ve lost a great champion and a great man, who was capable of bouncing back multiple times when faced with life’s difficulties.”

The Olympics outlet quoted Marco Giunio De Sanctis, president of the Italian Paralympic Committee, saying Zanardi “truly launched the Paralympic Movement, making a decisive contribution to the spread of its culture, in Italy and around the world.”