Rome, May 2. (LaPresse) – Italian sport mourns the passing of Alex Zanardi. The President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio, has invited the National Sports Federations, the Associated Sports Disciplines and the Sports Promotion Bodies to observe a minute of silence during all sporting events taking place in Italy over the weekend to honour the memory of Alex Zanardi, an inimitable champion of sport. Born in Bologna in 1966, in motorsport Zanardi became CART champion in 1997 and 1998 and Italian Superturismo champion in 2005, despite the serious accident in September 2001 in Germany that cost him the amputation of both legs. In paracycling he won four gold medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games and 12 road world titles. Then, on June 19, 2020, Zanardi was involved in another terrible accident along state road 146 of Chianciano, in Pienza, a collision with a heavy vehicle while he was taking part, in handbike, in one of the stages of the “Obiettivo tricolore” relay. The President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio, interpreting the sentiments of the entire sporting movement, joins the family in mourning: “We lose a great champion and a great man, capable of getting back up many times in the face of life’s difficulties. To his family go my sincerest condolences and those of CONI.”
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