Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi wins third Paralympic gold medal
Fifteen years ago, Italian racing driver Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs in a horrific crash during a CART race at the Lausitzring in Germany.
On Wednesday, Zanardi, now 49, picked up his third Paralympic gold medal during a hand-cycling race in Rio at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Zanardi completed the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) H5 road time trial in 28 minutes 36.81 seconds, just three seconds ahead of silver medalists Stuart Tripp. He also has two gold medals from the 2012 Paralympics, one from the time trial and one from the road race.
On Thursday, Zanardi picked up his fifth medal overall with a silver in the road race, 15 years to the date of his CART crash.
Following his win Wednesday, Zanardi took to Twitter to thank his fans for their support:
Isn't about the 144 digits, simply that's impossible to describe some kind of feelings
— alex zanardi (@lxznr) September 14, 2016
Thanks to YOU all, I mean it! pic.twitter.com/8KOjXT5izY
"I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege," said Zanardi.
"Normally I don't thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about, but today is too much, I had to raise my eyes and thank him."
