Today, May 2, 2026, Alex Zanardi leaves us: a champion who taught the world what it truly means to never give up.
There are no words big enough to describe Alex Zanardi: driver, Paralympic athlete, extraordinary human being — a life spent proving that limits exist only in our minds, and that sport is, before anything else, life itself.
Today the world loses one of its purest symbols, a face full of simplicity and humility that will be missed by anyone who saw him win in sport or tell his incredible stories.
We have selected ten quotes that, more than any others, truly describe who Alessandro Zanardi was.
The most famous quotes by Alex Zanardi
1. “When in a race you realize you’ve given everything — absolutely everything — hold on for five more seconds, because that’s when others can’t anymore.”
2. “When I woke up without legs, I looked at what remained, not at what was lost.”
3. “I am Alex Zanardi, and if I hadn’t had the accident in which I lost my legs, I wouldn’t be this happy today.”
4. “Life is like coffee: you can add all the sugar you want, but if you want it sweet, you have to stir it. If you stand still, nothing happens.”
5. “I had two choices: give up or find passion in a new project. I chose the second.” — said after the 2001 Lausitzring accident
6. “I believe curiosity is the only thing we truly need in life. If you are curious, you will find your passion.” — Late Show with David Letterman
7. “I didn’t want to prove anything to anyone; the challenge was only with myself. But if my example helped give confidence to someone else, then even better.” — after the Ironman, Paralympic world record
8. “You can get addicted to good things… and one of them is definitely sport.”
9. “If you want to become number one for money or fame, you’ll never make it. Maybe you will if you do it for fun.” — during a talk with young people
10. “If you truly know where you’re going, becoming a champion is the least of your concerns. You just have to do that one thing.”
Thirty-two years ago, like yesterday and the day before, we remembered that tragic weekend in Imola. Today, May 2, we will forever remember the great Alex Zanardi.
Photo: BMW, Alex Zanardi, Pietro Rizzato
