Zanardi, who lost his leg in a racing accident, is credited with helping change the perception of disability in Italy.
Published May 2, 2026
Italian F1 driver Alex Zanardi, who became Paralympic cycling champion after losing both legs in an accident, has died at the age of 59, his family has announced.
Zanardi, one of Italy’s most beloved and respected athletes and credited with helping change the perception of disability in Italy, died on Friday night.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
In a statement released Saturday through Obietivo 3, the charity he founded, his family said he passed away “suddenly” but “peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends.”
“The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone who has expressed their support at this time and asks that their grief and privacy be respected during this period of mourning.”
Zanardi’s death comes six years after the four-time Paralympic gold medalist suffered a second tragic accident in June 2020, when his handbike collided with an oncoming car while racing in Tuscany.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised Zanardi as “a great champion and an extraordinary person who can turn every challenge in life into a lesson in courage, strength and dignity.”
Cordiano d’Agnoni, president of the Italian Cycling Federation, said he “transformed the culture of our country, brought joy and happiness to those who were lucky enough to know him, and brought hope to many people in Italy and around the world.”
He said a minute’s silence would be observed at this weekend’s race in his honor.
Zanardi raced in F1 in the early 1990s with Jordan, Minardi and Lotus before moving to the US CART Championship, where he won the series championship in 1997 and 1998.
He returned to F1 with Williams in 1999 and then returned to CART.
Zanardi nearly died in a horrific accident at Germany’s Lausitzring circuit in 2001, and subsequently had both of his legs amputated.
His car stalled in the middle of the track after spinning and collided with another car at speeds of over 300 km/h (186 mph).
Still, he became one of the most famous figures in Paralympic sport, winning two gold medals at the 2012 London Games and two more at the Rio de Janeiro Games four years later.
In June 2020, he was involved in another terrible accident, this time in Tuscany. He suffered severe head injuries and finally returned home 18 months later.
Zanardi was born on October 23, 1966 in Bologna and leaves behind his wife Daniela and son Niccolo.
