In a tribute to the late Alex Zanardi, who passed away at the age of 59, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed that a minute of silence will be observed before every Serie A match during the 35th round of fixtures.
Zanardi’s family announced his peaceful passing on the evening of May 1st. A statement from the family expressed deep sorrow and gratitude for the outpouring of support, while requesting privacy during their time of mourning.
Alex Zanardi was a significant figure in Italian paralympic sports. He was a former motorsports competitor, including stints in Formula One between 1991-1994 and again in 1999. His career took a dramatic turn after a severe crash in a 2001 CART event, which resulted in the amputation of both his legs.
Despite this life-altering event, Zanardi demonstrated remarkable resilience. He continued to compete in racing using specially adapted vehicles and later shifted his focus to handcycling. He achieved considerable success in handcycling, securing four gold and two silver medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Tragically, Zanardi was involved in another significant accident in 2020 during the “Obiettivo tricolore” Italian national road race for paralympic athletes. This incident led to an 18-month hospitalization and further life-altering injuries.
Alex Zanardi passed away on Friday, May 1st, at the age of 59. Numerous Serie A clubs and coaches have shared their condolences and paid tribute to Zanardi on social media and in pre-match press conferences.