Alex Zanardi's invincible spirit and courage carried him to his 12th paracycling title on Friday, the 52-year-old former F1 driver winning the time trial event at the UCI Paracycling Road World Championships at Emmen in the Netherlands.
We ran out long ago of superlatives to describe this real-life Ironman and great champion who transcended his limitations in the years following the horrific crash at the Lausitzring in 2001 in which he lost both legs.
Zanardi took up handcycling in 2007 and never looked back, collecting against all odds - except his own - world titles and gold medals in the London and Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.
Alex is living proof that our destiny in life is not defined by our physical strength, endurance or mastery. But by the potency of our spirit.
Alex Zanardi - Renaissance man extraordinaire!
