Story highlights
- Ex-Formula One driver Alex Zanardi claims gold medal in hand cycling at the London 2012 Paralympics
- He lost both his legs in a horrific crash in 2001 but continued in motorsport
- Italian first tried hand cycling in 2007 and made it his new career two years later
- The 45-year-old says he has made the most of the chances fate has given him
"It's been a magical adventure, and this is a fantastic conclusion."
Not many people get second chances in life, but Alex Zanardi is making the most of his.
In 2001 the ex-Formula One driver was at death's door, lucky to survive a horrific accident that left him with only 30% of his blood supply. He lost both his legs -- amputated at the knee -- after being pulled from the wreckage of his car at a race in Germany.
Fast forward more than a decade, to another race track, and the Italian is on top of the world.
While he was never able to reach the heights of success in F1 -- Zanardi never made the podium in 44 races -- he is a champion Paralympian.
"I'm somebody very lucky who had a great life," the the 45-year-old Zanardi said after winning gold in his adopted sport of hand cycling at Britain's Brands Hatch circuit on Wednesday.
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tito Sena of Brazil celebrates winning the men's T46 marathon on Sunday, September 9, the final day of the London 2012 Paralympics.
Hide Caption
1 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Athletes compete in the men's T54 marathon near Westminster and the Houses of Parliament on Sunday.
Hide Caption
2 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Spain's Alberto Suarez Laso reacts after finishing in first place in the men's marathon T12 in central London on Sunday.
Hide Caption
3 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
paralympics 0909-4 – Mateus Francisco Tostes Calvo of Brazil, in white, sits on the field after losing to Iran 5-0 in the men's team football 7-a-side bronze medal match Sunday.
Hide Caption
4 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The lead group of runners races to the finish in the men's T12 marathon Sunday.
Hide Caption
5 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Canadian teammates celebrate after defeating Australia to win the gold medal wheelchair basketball competition Sunday.
Hide Caption
6 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Oscar Pistorius of South Africa throws a bouquet of flowers on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 400-meter T44 final Saturday, September 8, at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Hide Caption
7 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The United States' Joseph Chambers reaches for the ball during Saturday's bronze medal wheelchair basketball game between United States and Great Britain.
Hide Caption
8 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Yang Ge serves against Poland's Sebastian Powrozniak during the men's team table tennis Class 9-10 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
9 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cuba's Yunidis Castillo wins gold in the women's 400-meter T46 on Saturday.
Hide Caption
10 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Australian Madison De Rozario looks on prior to the women's 400-meter T53 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
11 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Aniek Van Koot, left, and Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands in action against Marjolein Buis and Esther Vergeer, also of the of Netherlands, in the women's doubles gold medal match.
Hide Caption
12 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Richard Browne of the United States competes in the men's high jump F46 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
13 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, also known as the "Blade Runner," crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400-meter T44 final. Pistorius also competed in the London Olympics.
Hide Caption
14 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – No. 13 Derrick Helton of the United States attempts to get the ball from No. 13 Jared Funk of Canada during Saturday's mixed wheelchair rugby semifinal match between the U.S. and Canada.
Hide Caption
15 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Thailand's Pattaya Tadtong, right, celebrates beating Britain's David Smith, left, in the final of the boccia individual BC1 competition on Saturday.
Hide Caption
16 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The sun sets as Shingo Kunieda of Japan, front left, plays against Stephane Houdet of France in the men's wheelchair tennis gold medal match on Saturday.
Hide Caption
17 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Korean Ho Won Jeong competes in the individual BC3 boccia gold medal match on Saturday.
Hide Caption
18 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ivano and Lucca Pizzi of Italy celebrate winning the men's individual B cycling road race on Saturday.
Hide Caption
19 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Yuansen Zheng tosses the ball during Saturday's Individual BC4 boccia gold medal match against Brazilian Dirceu Jose Pinto.
Hide Caption
20 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand prepares to compete Saturday in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB9 final.
Hide Caption
21 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – From left to right: Canada's Brent Lakatos passes over to teammate Alexandre Dupont and Mexico's Juan Pablo Cervantes Garcia to Jaime Ramirez Valencia in the men's 4x400-meter relay on Saturday.
Hide Caption
22 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mexican Luis Alberto Zepeda Felix competes in the men's javelin throw F54/55/56 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
23 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Korea's Choi Ye-Jin watches her shot in the gold medal final of the boccia mixed individual BC3 competition against South Korea's Jeong Ho-won on Saturday.
Hide Caption
24 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Simon Wilson, left, of Great Britain competes against Tang Tat Wong of Hong Kong during the men's open wheelchair fencing quarter-final match on Saturday.
Hide Caption
25 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jack Bridge of Great Britain celebrates after his men's 100-meter breaststroke on Saturday.
Hide Caption
26 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tim Prendergast of New Zealand competes in the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
27 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A volunteer holds a ball during the soccer match between Great Britain and Turkey on Saturday.
Hide Caption
28 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Abdellatif Baka of Algeria reacts after winning the gold during the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
29 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Audrey Le Morvan of France prepares to serve against Poland in the women's team table tennis bronze medal match on Saturday.
Hide Caption
30 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Toshihiro Takada of Japan competes in the men's 200-meter T52 heats on Saturday.
Hide Caption
31 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Neda Bahi of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold ahead of silver medalist Viktoriya Kravchenko of Ukraine, No. 1389, and bronze medalist Evgeniya Trushnikova of Russia, No. 1337, in the women's 400-meter T37 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
32 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Faridul Bin Masri of Malaysia competes in the men's javelin throw final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
33 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Robbi Weldon and Lynne Bessette of Canada ride in the women's cycling road race on Saturday.
Hide Caption
34 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Doniyor Saliev of Uzbekistan competes in the men's triple jump F12 final on Saturday.
Hide Caption
35 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A picture shows the shadow of competitors as they compete in the men's javelin throw F42 final on Friday, September 7.
Hide Caption
36 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Netherlands' Esther Vergeer keeps a spare ball in the spokes of her wheelchair as she plays Netherlands' Aniek Van Koot in the women's singles wheelchair tennis final on Friday.
Hide Caption
37 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Thomas Schmidberger of Germany competes in the final of the Men's Team Table Tennis - Class 3 against China on Friday.
Hide Caption
38 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A detailed view of wheelchairs during the men's pool phase Group A rugby match between Great Britain and Japan on Friday.
Hide Caption
39 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A shadow of Lucy Shuker serving with partner (out of frame) Jordanne Whiley of Great Britain to Sakhorn Khanthasit and Ratana Techamaneewat of Thailand in the women's doubles bronze medal match for wheelchair tennis on Friday.
Hide Caption
40 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain fans cheer on their athletes on Friday.
Hide Caption
41 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Daniela Schulte of germany, Naomi Ikinaga of Japan and Nadia Baez of Argentina compete in the women's 400m freestyle - S11 Heat 2 on Friday.
Hide Caption
42 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Puerto Rico's Jose Benitez Sanchez competes in the men's shot put F20 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
43 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Kieran Tscherniawsky of Great Britain competes in the men's discus throw F32/33/34 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
44 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Johanna Pretorius competes in the women's long jump F13 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
45 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Valerie Grand-Maison of Canada celebrates after winning gold in the women's 200m individual medley - SM13 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
46 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cristian Valenzuela of Chile and guide Cristopher Guajardo react as they win gold in the men's 5000m T11 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
47 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sarah Rung, right, of Norway touches the wall ahead of Teresa Perales, left, of Spain to win gold in the women's 50m butterfly - S5 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
48 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Silver medallist Dmitrii Kokarev of Russia, gold medallist Yang Yang of China and bronze medallist Arisdteidis Makrodimitris of Greece pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 50m freestyle - S2 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
49 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A medal bearer carries a medal and flowers on Friday.
Hide Caption
50 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The team of Finland celebrates after winning their men's team goalball gold medal match against Brazil on Friday.
Hide Caption
51 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Leomon Moreno Da Silva of Brazil and teammate Jose Roberto Ferreira De Oliveira block the ball during their men's team goalball gold-medal match against Finland on Friday.
Hide Caption
52 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Switzerland's Marcel Hug competes in the men's 400m - T54 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
53 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Rudy Garcia-Tolson, center, of the United States competes in the men's 100-meter T42 heats at the London 2012 Paralympic Gameson Friday.
Hide Caption
54 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Oksana Zubkovska of Ukraine competes in the women's long jump F11/12 final on Friday.
Hide Caption
55 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tunisia's Mohamed Amara competes in the men's javelin throw F40 final Friday.
Hide Caption
56 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain's Rachel Morris and Karen Darke cross the finish line at the end of the women's individual H1-3 road race Friday.
Hide Caption
57 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Poland's Sebastian Powrozniak competes in the men's team table tennis Class 9-10 on Friday.
Hide Caption
58 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Australia's Chris Bond reaches for the ball during the mixed wheelchair rugby open match against Belgium on Friday.
Hide Caption
59 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Bronze medalist Farzad Sepahvand of Iran poses Friday during the medal ceremony for the men's discus throw F44 final.
Hide Caption
60 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands plays a forehand in the final of the women's singles match in wheelchair tennis Friday.
Hide Caption
61 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – New Zealand's Tim Prendergast, No. 3, competes in the 800-meter T13 round 1 heat 1 on Friday.
Hide Caption
62 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Japan's Jun Hiromichi competes Friday in the men's 200-meter T53 heats.
Hide Caption
63 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's Kyron Duke asks for quiet before competing Friday in the men's javelin throw F40 final.
Hide Caption
64 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Zhao Xu, right, dips for the finish line, just ahead of Cuba's Raciel Gonzalez Isidoria to win the men's 100-meter T46 final on Thursday, September 6.
Hide Caption
65 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A spectator from Thailand wears masks as he watches Thursday's action at Olympic Stadium.
Hide Caption
66 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Yohansson Nascimento breaks down on the finish line after finishing last in the men's 100-meter T46 final Thursday.
Hide Caption
67 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Matthew Cowdrey of Australia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley SM9 final Thursday.
Hide Caption
68 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Wolfgang Sacher of Germany crosses the finish line in the men's individual C 4-5 road race Thursday.
Hide Caption
69 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tom Hall Butcher of Great Britain reacts during his men's individual sabre wheelchair fencing match Thursday.
Hide Caption
70 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Li Duan competes in the men's triple jump F11 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
71 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Yoojeong Lee of the Republic of Korea, right, shoots during the women's R8-50m rifle 3 positions-SH1 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
72 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's Sarah Storey, left, bites her gold medal as her nephew Gethin Crayford holds it on the podium after she won the women's individual C4-5 road race cycling final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
73 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Fiona Southorn of New Zealand in action in the women's individual C 4-5 road race on Thursday.
Hide Caption
74 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Michelle Alonso Morales of Spain celebrates after winning gold in the women's 100m breaststroke - SB14 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
75 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Argentina's captain Silvio Velo runs past Brazilian players to shoot at goal during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.
Hide Caption
76 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Bronze medalist Allison Jones, left, of the USA celebrates with silver medalist Denise Schindler of Germany after the women's individual C1-3 road race on Thursday.
Hide Caption
77 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jorge Benjamin Gonzalez Sauceda of Mexico celebrates winning bronze in the men's 400m - T12 final on Thursday, September 6.
Hide Caption
78 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Jeferson da Conceicao Goncalves is seen during the game against Argentina during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.
Hide Caption
79 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Samantha Cameron and David Cameron watch Great Britain play France during a Paralympic wheelchair rugby match on Thursday.
Hide Caption
80 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain wins gold in the women's 200m - T34 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
81 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain is congratulated by Melissa Nicholls of Great Britain on Thursday.
Hide Caption
82 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Silver medallist Edenia Garcia of Brazil poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 50m backstroke - S4 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
83 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jonathan De Souza Santos of Brazil competes in the men's shot put - F40 on Thursday.
Hide Caption
84 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Matthew Cowdrey of Australia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM9 heat 2 at the Aquatics Center on Thursday.
Hide Caption
85 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic leads the group during the men's individual C4-5 road race in Longfield, England, on Thursday.
Hide Caption
86 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Amy Conroy of Great Britain takes a shot during the women's classification crossover wheelchair basketball match between Great Britain and China on Thursday.
Hide Caption
87 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Marieke Vervoort of Belgium reacts as she wins gold in the women's 100-meter T52 final on Day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympics on Thursday.
Hide Caption
88 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of the Brazilian team huddle after the men's 4x100-meter relay T42/T46 final on Thursday.
Hide Caption
89 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Oscar Pistorius lunges toward the finish line ahead of Brazil's Alan Oliveira as he anchors his team to win the men's 4x100-meter relay T42-46 final and set a new world record on Thursday.
Hide Caption
90 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's Sam Ruddock reacts after his men's 200-meter T35 round 1 athletics heat on Thursday.
Hide Caption
91 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Czech Republic's Jiri Jezek reacts after winning the gold medal in the men's individual C4 time trial cycling final on Wednesday, September 5, at the London 2012 Paralympics in London.
Hide Caption
92 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Alessandro Zanardi of Italy celebrates winning the men's individual H4 time trial on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
93 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Nicholas Taylor of the United States plays a forehand in the quad doubles wheelchair tennis final on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
94 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's David Anthony, center, reacts to scoring a goal against the United States during a Pool A wheelchair rugby match on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
95 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Kenny Allen of Great Britain reacts after losing the match against China in the semifinal of the men's team recurve on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
96 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Will Groulx, center, of the United States gets upended by Britain's Aaron Phipps, left, during the rugby match on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
97 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Michael Teuber of Germany celebrates winning the men's individual C 1 time trial on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
98 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sam Chik Tam of Hong Kong fences during a men's epee Category B quarterfinal against Daoliang Hu of China on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
99 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Assunta Legnante of Italy competes in the women's shot put F11/F12 final on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
100 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Katrin Green, left, of Germany and Marlou van Rhijn of the Netherlands compete in the women's 200-meter T37 heats at Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
101 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Zahra Javanmard of Iran competes in the women's team recurve open qualifying round in archery on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
102 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Marcel Hug of Switzerland competes in the men's 800-meter T54 round 1 heat 2 cycling event on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
103 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tanto Campbell of Jamaica competes in the men's discus throw F54/55/56 final on Wednesday.
Hide Caption
104 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jenny McLoughlin of Great Britain reacts after the women's 4x100-meter relay - T35/T38 in which her team won the bronze medal Wednesday.
Hide Caption
105 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazilian Terezinha Guilhermina loses her guide Guilherme Soares de Santana after he fell in the Women's 400-meter T12 final at the 2012 London Paralympic Games on Tuesday, September 4.
Hide Caption
106 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – British racer David Weir celebrates winning the Men's 1500-meter T54 final on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
107 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Chinese Daoliang Hu, left, on his way to winning gold against Ukrainian Anton Datsko on Tuesday during the men's final of wheelchair fencing.
Hide Caption
108 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Katharina Kruger of Germany plays a shot while competing with Sabine Ellerbrock against Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker of Great Britain during the women's doubles wheelchair tennis quarterfinal match on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
109 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Yohansson Nascimento celebrates finishing second in the men's 400-meter T46 final on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
110 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Venezuela's Williams Barreto competes in the men's long jump - F20 final on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
111 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Walid Ktila of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold on Tuesday in the men's 200-meter - T34 final.
Hide Caption
112 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Daniel Silva of Brazil and guide Heitor de Oliveira Sales win silver in the men's 200-meter - T11 final on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
113 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Wells, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Christiansen of Great Britain wear their team gold medals for the equestrian event on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
114 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Wang Yanzhang competes in the men's shot put F34 final on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
115 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie Schneider of the United States reaches for the ball in the women's wheelchair basketball quarterfinals against Canada on Tuesday.
Hide Caption
116 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Venezuela's Jesus Aguilar swerves off the track as he approaches the finish line in the men's 800-meter T53 heats.
Hide Caption
117 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Turkey's Ramazan Kunduz uses the side wall for guidance during the men's team football 5-a-side B1 preliminary match Tuesday.
Hide Caption
118 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ruslan Katyshev of Ukraine competes in the men's long jump F11 final Tuesday.
Hide Caption
119 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Flavio Reitz competes in the men's high jump F42 final on Monday, September 3.
Hide Caption
120 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Russia's Sergey Malyshev shoots during the mixed 25-meter pistol final on Monday.
Hide Caption
121 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mickey Bushell of Great Britain crosses the line to win gold in the men's 100-meter final.
Hide Caption
122 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Matt Stutzman of the United States competes in men's individual compound archery.
Hide Caption
123 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cuba's Omara Durand celebrates after taking the gold medal in the women's 400-meter final.
Hide Caption
124 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Qing Xu of China competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley final.
Hide Caption
125 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira, left, crosses the line ahead of South Africa's Oscar Pistorius to win the men's 200-meter T44 final on Sunday, September 2.
Hide Caption
126 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Oliveira is congratulated by Pistorius at the end of the men's 200-meter T44 race.
Hide Caption
127 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, presents the gold medal to Aled Davies of Great Britain after he won the men's discus F42 athletics event.
Hide Caption
128 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Laura Thompson, left, and Phillipa Gray of New Zealand celebrate winning a heat of the women's individual B pursuit track cycling event.
Hide Caption
129 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – France's Marie-Amelie le Fur, center, lunges over the finish line to win the women's 100-meter T44 final as April Holmes, left, of the United States finishes third.
Hide Caption
130 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jingling Ouyang of China competes in the women's long jump F46 final. Ouyang won the bronze medal.
Hide Caption
131 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Lixin Zhang of China leads the field in the men's 1500-meter T54 heat at Olympic Stadium.
Hide Caption
132 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Swimmers compete in the men's 200-meter individual medley SM6 heat 2 at the Aquatics Center.
Hide Caption
133 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Athletes compete in the women's 5000 meters T54 final.
Hide Caption
134 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Kelly Cartwright of Australia competes in the women's long jump F42/44 final at Olympic Stadium.
Hide Caption
135 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Jia Juntingxian, left, runs with her guide, Xu Dongloin, against Brazil's Jerusa Geber Santos and her guide, Luiz Henrique Barboza Da Silva, during the women's 200 meters T11 semifinal race.
Hide Caption
136 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Daniel Fox, left, of Australia and Marc Evers of the Netherlands dive into the pool at the start of the men's 200-meter freestyle - S14 heat 3.
Hide Caption
137 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Amber Thomas of Canada competes in the women's 100-meter backstroke - S11 heat 1.
Hide Caption
138 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Filomeno Soares of East Timor competes in the men's 400-meter - T38 heats at Olympic Stadium. The winner, Venezuela's Omar Monterola, lies on the floor after crossing the finish line.
Hide Caption
139 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Bastien Grundeler of France serves during his men's singles Class 6 bronze medal table tennis match against Peter Rosenmeier of Denmark.
Hide Caption
140 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Wells of Great Britain caresses her horse Pinocchio after winning silver in the dressage individual championship test -Grade IV on Sunday.
Hide Caption
141 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Alla Malchyk of Ukraine competes in the women's shot put F35/36 final.
Hide Caption
142 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mihovil Spanja of Croatia competes in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM7 heat 1.
Hide Caption
143 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gordon Reid of Great Britain prepares to serve during the men's singles wheelchair tennis round 64 match against Takuya Miki of Japan in London on Saturday, September 1.
Hide Caption
144 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Terezinha Guilhermina, left, prepares with her coach at the start of the women's 200-meter T11 race.
Hide Caption
145 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Carol-Eduard Novak of Romania celebrates winning gold in the men's individual C4 pursuit final.
Hide Caption
146 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Richard Whitehead of Great Britain celebrates winning gold in the men's 200-meter T42 final.
Hide Caption
147 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Eleanor Simmonds of Great Britain dives in at the start of her women's 400-meter freestyle S6 heat.
Hide Caption
148 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – U.S. swimmer Jessica Long enters the swimming pool during a training session on Day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on Friday, August 31.
Hide Caption
149 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Thailand's Choochat Sukjarern attempts a lift during the Men's -52 kg powerlifting.
Hide Caption
150 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Chinese Zhoubin Wang, left, chases the ball during the men's team football five-a-side match against Turkey.
Hide Caption
151 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Croatian Darko Kralj competes in the men's shotput final.
Hide Caption
152 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain's Ryan Cockbill lines up his shot at the shooting range during the P2-10-meter air pistol SH1 final.
Hide Caption
153 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – British gold medalist Hannah Cockroft poses on the podium during the victory ceremony in the Women's 100-meter T34 wheelchair race.
Hide Caption
154 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Competitors take part in the dressage equestrian event.
Hide Caption
155 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Chinese Qi Feng is congratulated by his coach Weipo Li for his gold during the medal ceremony of the Men's -52 kg powerlifting.
Hide Caption
156 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ukrainian Dmytro Solovey, in white, and Mexican Eduardo Avila Sanchez compete in the Men's 73-kilogram judo semifinals.
Hide Caption
157 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain competes in the women's 100 meters on day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Friday, August 31.
Hide Caption
158 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Lahouari Bahlaz of Algeria competes in the men's club throw on Friday.
Hide Caption
159 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand in action during the women's 50-meter freestyle.
Hide Caption
160 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Julie Rogers, from left, Jessica Frezza, Martine Wright and Andrea Green of Great Britain react to a point during the opening game of the womens sitting volleyball tournament against Ukraine.
Hide Caption
161 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A spectator gets into the athletics action on Friday.
Hide Caption
162 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A competitor walks across the athletics track.
Hide Caption
163 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – James Crisp of Great Britain swims in the men's 100-meter backstroke.
Hide Caption
164 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mark Colbourne of Great Britain competes in the men's individual cycling event.
Hide Caption
165 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ukraine's Alla Lysenko (second in row) prepares to take part in the women single sculls heat on Friday.
Hide Caption
166 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain's Ade Oregbemi takes a tumble in the preliminary men's wheelchair basketball match, which Germany won 77-72, on Thursday, August 30.
Hide Caption
167 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Great Britain team leaves the court losing to China during the women's goalball match between China and Great Britain.
Hide Caption
168 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
paralympics fri 07 – LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: General view of Greenwich Park equestrian venue as competitors take part the Dressage event on day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Greenwich Park on August 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Hide Caption
169 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Zheng Tao celebrates breaking the world record after winning the men's 100-meter backstroke swimming event.
Hide Caption
170 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Sarah Storey of Great Britain poses on the podium during the victory ceremony for women's cycling.
Hide Caption
171 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Australian women's wheelchair basketball team huddles and celebrates their victory during their preliminary basketball game against Brazil.
Hide Caption
172 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Fans watch the preliminary wheelchair men's basketball match between Great Britain and Germany, which Germany won 77-72.
Hide Caption
173 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The United States' Jessica Long, left, and Ukraine's Kateryna Istomina compete in the women's 100-meter butterfly.
Hide Caption
174 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – British swimmer Anthony Stephens prepares for the men's 50-meter freestyle final.
Hide Caption
175 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Netherlands' Inge Huitzing passes the ball as Britain's Laurie Williams, left, and Caroline Maclean defend during the preliminary women's group A wheelchair basketball match.
Hide Caption
176 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Prince William and his wife, Catherine, applaud as they watch British cyclist Sarah Storey break a world record in her C5 individual pursuit heat.
Hide Caption
177 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie du Toit of South Africa competes in the women's 100-meter butterfly heat.
Hide Caption
178 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A volunteer moves the prosthetic leg of Sven Decaesstecker of Belgium during the men's SM10 200-meter individual medley swimming heat.
Hide Caption
179 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie Smith of Australia competes in the Women's R2-10-meter air rifle standing SH1 finals.
Hide Caption
180 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Arnulfo Castorena of Mexico competes in the men's 50-meter breast stroke SB2 heat 1.
Hide Caption
181 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – British fans cheer on Ben Quilter during judo competition Thursday.
Hide Caption
182 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jianping Ruan of China competes in the women's individual C4 pursuit cycling qualifying.
Hide Caption
183 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jack Bridge, right, of Great Britain prepares to compete in the men's 200-meter individual medley - SM10 heat 2.
Hide Caption
184 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Rebecca Dubber of New Zealand competes in the women's 100-meter backstroke S7 heat 1.
Hide Caption
185 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China, top, and Iran compete in the men's group B goalball match Thursday.
Hide Caption
186 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cuiping Zhang, left, of China and Natalie Smith, right, of Australia shake hands on the podium after the women's R2 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 final.
Hide Caption
187 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ben Quilter, in white, of Great Britain competes against Mouloud Noura of Algeria during the men's -60 kilogram judo quarterfinal match.
Hide Caption
188 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's Mel Clarke, center, competes in the women's archery individual compound open ranking round.
Hide Caption
189 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Torchbearers exchange the Paralympic flame outside Westminster Abbey in London on Wednesday, August 29.
Hide Caption
190 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A young boy waits for the arrival of the Paralympic torch in Trafalgar Square ahead of the start of the Games.
Hide Caption
191 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The cauldron is lit as the four Paralympic flames, which were lit on the UK's highest peaks, are united at Stoke Mandeville Hospital during the torch relay on Tuesday, August 28, in Aylesbury, England.
Hide Caption
192 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of Team GB Paralympic look on as they are welcomed by dancers during a ceremony at the Paralympic Village.
Hide Caption
193 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Paralympic athletes from Switzerland push their wheelchairs ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Hide Caption
194 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Dancers perform during a welcome ceremony at the Paralympic Village.
Hide Caption
195 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A general view shows the Olympic Velodrome.
Hide Caption
196 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of Team GB Paralympic are cheered on by dancers.
Hide Caption
197 of 198
Photos: Paralympics 2012: The best photos
Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Flags fly in the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Hide Caption
198 of 198
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Tatyana McFadden – Tatyana McFadden is an eight-time world champion sprint athlete from the United States. She has previously participated in Paralympic Games in Athens and Beijing. So far in London, she has added a gold to her medal stash.
Hide Caption
1 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Jessica Long – Before the London Paralympics, Jessica Long told usaswimming.com she wanted to have fun while competing this year. This relaxed attitude has worked well for Long who has won three gold medals since arriving in London, which she is adding to her nine previous Paralympics medals.
Hide Caption
2 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Sarah Storey – Sarah Storey was a big name for ParalympicsGB before the Games started. She cemeted her name in the Paralympic record books by winning the first gold medal for the host nation and setting a new world record -- all on day one.
Hide Caption
3 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Esther Vergeer – Not only is Esther Vergeer the female world number one in wheelchair tennis, but she also holds the remarkable record of 465 unbeaten singles matches over almost a decade.
Hide Caption
4 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Alexandra Rickham – Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell of Great Britain got together as a sailing team in 2007 and have gone on to win four consecutive world titles. However, a paralympic medal has so far alluded them.
Hide Caption
5 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
April Holmes – U.S. athlete April Holmes competes in the women's 100m T44 event on day eight of the 2008 Paralympic Games. She beat her own world record, fulfilling an ambition she'd spoken about before the games.
Hide Caption
6 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Sarah Gascon – Sarai Gascon of Spain competes in the women's 100m Butterfly S9 on day one of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Aquatics Centre. She was up against preeminent South African Natalie du Toit. She placed second but with many races to go, the pair's battle is set to continue.
Hide Caption
7 of 8
Photos: 8 female Paralympians to watch
Jess Gallagher – Jess Gallagher is the first and only Australian woman to win a medal at the Paralympic winter games, which she did in Vancouver in 2010. In London, she's aiming for a summer paralympics medal in long jump having come sixth in the javelin.
Hide Caption
8 of 8
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Classifying disability – Due to the Paralympics' classification rules, South Africa's double amputee "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius can line up against runners with only one prosthetic leg.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Defying the odds – Chinese swimmer Zheng Tao has no arms, but that didn't stop him winning gold against competitors more physically abled.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Level playing field? – Britain's gold medalist Jonathan Fox looked "more able" outside the pool than his swimming rivals, according to former Canadian Paralympic middle-distance runner David Howe, who is now an academic.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Controversial changes – Paralympic swimmer Mallory Weggemann, along with U.S. teammate Victoria Arlen, have both battled the International Paralympic Committee after having their classifications changed.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
Breaking it down – Athletes are placed in one of six main disability groups: those with spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, amputees, the blind or visually impaired, intellectual disabilities and those whose disabilities fall outside of those categories, like those born with dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
From 1 to 10 – Each of the Paralympics' 20 sports are divided between the different classifications and given a number that denotes the severity of the disability -- 1 being the most severe, 10 the least.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Photos: Classifiying Paralympic ability
'Look to the potential' – The IPC has complicated things further by trying to slim down the number of medals and disciplines and look beyond the disability as the defining factor in classification. Instead, it says, look to the potential of the athlete.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
"I haven't wasted many opportunities that fate gave me. I've certainly had many more opportunities than I deserved, but luckily enough I ended up making the right choices."
In the buildup to the London Games, Zanardi joked, with a dose of black humor, that his accident "was how I won my ticket to the 2012 Paralympics."
Having failed to make a career in F1 after four difficult seasons, he turned to the U.S. CART series where he twice won the drivers' title for Chip Ganassi's team.
That earned him a return to the elite division of motorsport in 1999 with the Williams team, but again he struggled.
Drifting back to open-wheel cars, fate came calling at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz on September 15, 2001. He had worked his way up from the rear of the field to lead the race with 13 laps to go before that life-changing crash.
Given the severity of his injuries, the doctors at the scene of the accident said Zanardi should never have survived.
Remarkably just two months later, he was walking again using prosthetic legs of his own design. Another two years on, he finished the race that nearly took his life, completing the remaining 13 laps at Lausitz in a specially modified touring car.
By 2004 he was racing touring cars fulltime with the help of hand-operated brake and accelerator paddles. Zanardi even drove a modified BMW Formula One car in 2006.
But while most motorsport stars find it difficult to give up their high-octane thrills, Zanardi did just that.
"Three years ago I decided to stop motor racing, not because I had to but because I wanted to," he said.
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Sit down, stand up – It has been a long road to the London 2012 Paralympics for the Rwandan men's sitting volleyball team, which is the best in Africa.
Hide Caption
1 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Sit down, stand up – Team captain Dominique Bizimana told CNN: "I think we are superstars. For us disability is nothing. We are able. We are making sure we tell people disability is nothing. It is not inability."
Hide Caption
2 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Tools of the trade – Most of the players are amputees from the country's 1994 genocide.
Hide Caption
3 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
War child – As many as one million people were killed when a civil war between the majority Hutus and minority Tutsis broke out.
Hide Caption
4 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Training day – Hundreds of thousands of people were left maimed, but sport has provided an outlet for many and helped reconciliation between the two communities. Both Hutus and Tutsis are in the volleyball team.
Hide Caption
5 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Match point – The game itself is fast paced and, according to the team's Dutch coach, technically more demanding than able-bodied volleyball.
Hide Caption
6 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Brothers in arms – The team's training facilities in the capital Kigali are basic. The players hope to spring a surprise or two, but lost their opening game to Iran, one of the favorites for gold.
Hide Caption
7 of 8
Photos: Rwanda's sitting volleyball team
Challenges ahead – The Rwandans will also face Brazil, China and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Pool B.
Hide Caption
8 of 8
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Elliot Mujaji – Elliot Mujaji was a member of Zimbabwe's national athletics team and qualified to compete at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, when he suffered severe burns in an electrical accident. His right arm was amputated, and he remained in a coma for two months. He came back to athletics, and won the first ever Paralympic gold for his country.
Hide Caption
1 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Oscar Pistorius – South Africa's "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius made history at London 2012 by becoming the first double amputee to compete on the track and make an Olympic final. He is the favorite in the Paralympics 100 meters run.
Hide Caption
2 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Henry Wanyoike – In 1995, while training to become a professional runner, Henry Wanyoike became almost completely blind after suffering a stroke. He got back to competing, and became one of the fastest men on the planet. He holds two world records in 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and the record time for marathon.
Hide Caption
3 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Achmat Hassiem – Achmat Hassiem lost his foot to a Great White shark when participating in a lifeguard training session in 2006. After an amazing recovery, he qualified for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and has been competing ever since. Inset picture: Hassiem shows off a fragment of a shark's tooth that was stuck in his leg after he was attacked.
Hide Caption
4 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Natalie Du Toit – South African Natalie Du Toit lost her left leg when she was hit by a car as a young promising swimmer. She kept training and, besides winning five gold medals in Beijing Paralympics, she qualified for Beijing Olympics 10 km swimming race, finishing 16th. She recently announced London will be her last major competition.
Hide Caption
5 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Metwaly Mathana – The star of Egyptian powerlifting, Metwaly Mathana started the sport at the age of 5. According to his bio with the Egyptian Paralympic committee, he had to leave his village as there was not enough steel for him to keep lifting. He won three gold medals in three consecutive Games.
Hide Caption
6 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Somaya Bousaid – Tunisia's Somaya Bousaid won two gold medals in Beijing 2008 Games -- and became one of the most successful athletes from her country. She was born blind and competes in the category of visually-impaired athletes.
Hide Caption
7 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Roxy Burns – Cyclist Roxy Burns, a South African cerebral palsy sufferer, made her Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008. As an 18-year-old, she finished sixth in the 500 meters track time trial. Her results have been improving since Beijing and she is one of the favorites for a medal.
Hide Caption
8 of 9
Photos: Meet the African Paralympic stars
Tesfalem Gebru Kebede – Tesfalem Gebru Kebede won a bronze medal in last year's world championship and is one of Ethiopia's top athletes. He lost his hand when his house was bombed during the Ethio-Eritrea war.
Hide Caption
9 of 9
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Paralympian Margaret Maughan lights the Paralympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics on Wednesday, August 29.
Hide Caption
1 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The Paralympic flag is carried by members of the Great Britain wheelchair basketball team.
Hide Caption
2 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The Paralympic flag is raised.
Hide Caption
3 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Athletes from Mexico parade in front of a cheering crowd.
Hide Caption
4 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – A large-scale reproduction of Marc Quinn's celebrated sculpture "Alison Lapper Pregnant" is presented.
Hide Caption
5 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The Olympic Stadium and Orbit shine brightly during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics on Wednesday, August 29.
Hide Caption
6 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Artists brandished silver umbrellas during their performance.
Hide Caption
7 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Some performers wore lighted visors.
Hide Caption
8 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – A giant apple featured prominently.
Hide Caption
9 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – A small plane trails sparks over the Olympic Stadium.
Hide Caption
10 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, watch the ceremony.
Hide Caption
11 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Artists perform with umbrellas.
Hide Caption
12 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Wheelchair rugby player Greg Smith of Australia carries the flag during the ceremony.
Hide Caption
13 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Artists perform with colorful umbrellas during the opening ceremony.
Hide Caption
14 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Attendees applaud Queen Elizabeth II and her son Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Hide Caption
15 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The opening ceremony featured plenty of fantastic imagery.
Hide Caption
16 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – A choir performs "Principia" by British composer Errollyn Wallen.
Hide Caption
17 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Service members from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force display the Great Britain flag.
Hide Caption
18 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The participants sport unique headgear.
Hide Caption
19 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Miranda performs during the ceremony.
Hide Caption
20 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – Artists also wielded silvery umbrellas for the ceremony.
Hide Caption
21 of 22
Photos: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Paralympics opening ceremony – The opening ceremony featured plenty of bright lights and beautiful colors.
Hide Caption
22 of 22
"It looked stupid, because at the age of 42 to dump everything to try to pursue an objective to qualify for the Games seemed to be against all odds for a man of my age.
"It felt very crazy but it's not the first crazy thing that I do in my life, so I guess it will not be the last."
Zanardi replaced one adrenaline buzz with another.
He discovered hand cycling -- a sport where the bikes are powered by the riders' arms -- at the 2007 New York marathon.
Invited to speak as a guest, Zanardi decided if he was going to fly all the way from Italy to the U.S. he might as well compete. Compete he did, finishing fourth after only a few weeks' training.
He had found his new passion, competing in the 2009 world championships and then setting about qualifying for the 2012 Paralympics.
"This was the horizon," he said, smiling as a burst of brilliant, afternoon sunshine lit up his face following his victory in the H4 classification road time trial.
"I'm very, very happy. It's never been a sacrifice. I've enjoyed every day of training as much as this moment now."
Immediately after his win, the F1 family -- including former world champions Mario Andretti and Jenson Button -- took to social media sites to congratulate Zanardi.
Although he was only briefly in their ranks, he is still remembered as one of the sport's "nice guys" and most charismatic competitors.
The golden ending to his journey came at Brands Hatch, a circuit 20 miles from London where Zanardi had previously raced in a touring car.
Photos:
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Disabled marathon runner Claire Lomas, center, lights the Olympic cauldron for the Paralympic Games in Trafalgar Square on August 24, 2012. The London 2012 Paralympic Games open on August 29 for 12 days.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Paralympian athlete Angela Hendra prepares to light the cauldron during the London 2012 Paralympic Games lighting ceremony at Stormont Government buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 25.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – People watch a fireworks display on August 25 after a Paralympic cauldron was lit outside Northern Ireland's parliament in Belfast, the second of four in Britain's capital cities ahead of the 2012 Games.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Marieke Vervoort of Belgium's Paralympic team arrives by Eurostar at St Pancras International station in London on August 26.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Russian Paralympians arrive at Heathrow's Terminal Four on August 22 in London.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Performers dance during the New Zealand Flag Raising Ceremony at the Olympic Park on August 27 in London.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Photos:
Paralympics arrive in London – Prime Minister David Cameron meets members of the Great Britain Paralympics archery team during a visit to the Olympic village, ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Olympic Park, on August 24.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
Photos: U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold
Photos: U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold
Paralympics 2012 – Paralympian Paul left his Wall Street job to take over Sail to Prevail - an organization which teaches disabled children to sail. From eight children a year, the charity, based in Newport, Rhode Island, now helps around 1,000 youngsters annually.
Hide Caption
1 of 3
Photos: U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold
Paralympics 2012 – Paul, left, competes in the three-person sailing event at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. The U.S. failed to win a medal, but gold is on the cards at London 2012 Callahan says.
Hide Caption
2 of 3
Photos: U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold
Paralympics 2012 – Paul became a quadriplegic after slipping on a wet floor and breaking his neck as a 21-year-old. He was paralyzed from the chest down, keeping the use of his arms, but not his hands.
Hide Caption
3 of 3
"With an engine pushing me I didn't realize it was that hilly," he said.
"It's very, very hard but if I had to design the course for the Games this is what I would have done. It's absolutely beautiful, it's very hard -- I guess it really suits my characteristics as an old man."
So how does the thrill of winning a cycling race compare to the highs of motor racing?
"When you are in your twenties you just think the races are what matter the most," Zanardi said.
"When you are in your forties you really appreciate what you do every day. Of course today is very important but I really appreciate what I did in the past.
"Day by day, it's been magical, a magical adventure and this is a fantastic conclusion."
It seems unlikely that a man who could not be bowed by losing both of his legs will retire from sport anytime soon.
He has already mooted a possible return at the 2016 Rio Games, but Zanardi also joked that his next plan was to add another wheel and engine to his cycle and come back to Brands Hatch.
The circuit also hosts Superbike racing and, judging by the glint in his eye, perhaps Zanardi is already weighing up a new challenge of trying out a faster form of wheeled sport.
