Alex Zanardi at the Venice Marathon

[Alianora La Canta]

Alex Zanardi entered a handcycling marathon in Venice recently. He decided to help out a 17-year-old competitor, Eric Fontanari, who had been desperate to compete in the marathon despite having no use of his legs and virtually no use of his arms.

It rained and was also very windy, making it extremely difficult for Eric. Eventually, Alex started pushing Eric to help him keep forward momentum. When that was no longer sufficient, Alex took the front wheel off Eric's bike and used a rope in a roadside bin to attach Eric's bike to his own. The idea was that after the last bridge, Eric could have his wheel back and hopefully by then have recovered enough to finish under his own power.

However, the individual who was meant to bring Eric's wheel back never showed up, so Alex ended up towing Eric for the rest of the race. Until the last centimetre. Then, he stopped towing, took the rope off the bike... ...and pushed Eric's bike (still minus its front wheel) across the line, so that Eric would get to finish before him. A wonderfully sporting gesture.

There's a photo of the Zanardi-Fontanari "home-made tractor" and a video at Globesporte (writing in Portuguese, but sporting behaviour is an international language).

[vintly]

Legendary. A don of the highest order.

[Jericoke]

This story is truly fantastic.

Zanardi may never have been a force at the highest level of F1, but he may well be on the road to becoming the most important Person ever to race an F1 car.

Thank you for posting Ali

[lkjohnson1950]

Zanardi must be strong as an ox.  He just keeps getting farther up the human chain all the time. Bravo, Bellissimo!!

[cosworth151]

Absolutely astounding! Well done, Alex! Top man!

[Scott]

This story is truly fantastic.

Zanardi may never have been a force at the highest level of F1, but he may well be on the road to becoming the most important Person ever to race an F1 car.

Thank you for posting Ali

So true Jeri.  Wow - what an amazing guy.

[John S]

Alex is a true sportsman and a real gent,   reminds me of the spirit of the early F1 drivers who would cheerfully give up their cars to help teamates championship or winning chances.

 

[F1fanaticBD]

A true sportman, never give up, and yet makes the competitors at as ever..

For me he is the greatest driver on the F1 who never made to podium..

May I ask my beloved GPW members to give us the other contender please?