Zanardi is making headlines again

Alex Zanardi, former F1 and Champ Car driver who lost both his legs in 2001, will be at the starting line of the New York Marathon on November 4, the organizers announced Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Italian will use a manual wheelchair for his first 26.2 km road race.

Zanardi won the Champ Car crown twice and drove as a driver for teams such as F1 Minardi and Lotus between 1991-94 and Williams in 1999.

He lost both his legs in an accident in 2001, during a Champ Car race in Germany. Equipped with prosthetics to replace his limbs, he continues to showcase his great abilities in the BMW World Touring Car Championship. Zanardi also drove a few laps in a BMW Sauber last year.

The Italian, sponsored by Barilla, one of his sponsors, on the eve of the New York race, spoke to about 15,000 runners about his rehabilitation and return to competition.

« I’ve done a lot of somewhat crazy things in my life and I’ve eaten and been trained like an athlete. I want to say that I will not only cross the starting line, but I will also cross the finish line, » said Zanardi.

« I hope to achieve this performance until the end, with a good mindset and in good physical condition. My goal is to finish in less than two hours. I have a month for training, and I will take this new challenge very seriously, » he concluded.

Alex Zanardi is an example for society. After a terrible accident that left him without the use of his legs, he managed to get back up to reach greater heights and surpass himself. Even with a disability, he continues to accomplish remarkable feats. That’s a true champion.