On May 1, 2026, Alex Zanardi, a great Paralympic athlete and a model of resilience and tenacity, passed away.

His story is well-known because he was an athlete both before and after the accident that left him with a disability. From a young age, he was interested in motorsports, which led him all the way to Formula 1. Following the accident, he turned to handcycling, competing in the London and Rio Paralympics and winning several medals, proving that “limitations” are no excuse.

Alex always chose to respond to pain not by hiding it, but by consciously facing it with courage and a touch of humor. He also contributed to combating stereotypes about people with disabilities by offering a different perspective on inclusion. His passing has certainly left a great void, but his example will live on forever.