Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi wins Paralympic gold

Posted Wednesday, Sep. 05, 2012 0 comments  Print Reprints
A

Have more to add? News tip? Tell us

LONDON -- Alex Zanardi just loves to race. But what he really likes to do is win.

The former Formula One driver took the gold medal Wednesday in the 16-kilometer (10-mile) handcycling time trial at the London Paralympics.

The two-time CART champion who lost both legs in a 2001 race car crash in Germany posted a time of 24 minutes, 50.22 seconds, capping an incredible journey.

"It's an amazing feeling," a clearly exuberant Zanardi said. "I'm really, really happy for the result."

Zanardi, 45, celebrated by sliding out of his cycle and lifting it over his head with one hand and raising his other arm, fist clenched, to the sky.

It was unusual. It was on purpose.

"I'm Alex Zanardi," he said with a huge grin, his Italian accent dragging each syllable. "I always have to come up with something. I have a little bit of a big head."

German Norbert Mossandl took silver with a time of 25 minutes, 17.40 seconds.

Beijing gold medal winner Oscar Sanchez of the United States, a former U.S. Marine who injured his spinal cord in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in 2001, finished in third in 25 minutes, 35.36 seconds.

Powered by the arms, a hand cycle has two coasting rear wheels and one steerable front wheel.

Pistorius anchors win

Oscar Pistorius captured his first gold medal of the London Paralympics, helping South Africa win the 400-meter relay in a world-record time.

The double amputee, known as "Blade Runner," anchored the team home to a time of 41.78 seconds. South Africa set the previous world record at 42.50 in February.

It is Pistorius' fifth Paralympic gold across three games. He won the 200 in Athens in 2004 and the 100, 200 and 400 in Beijing in 2008.

He has already won a silver in the 200 in London after being edged by Alan Oliveira of Brazil in Sunday's final.

Pistorius will go for gold in the 100 today after qualifying on Wednesday night, and will defend his 400 title Saturday.

Looking for comments?

We welcome your comments on this story, but please be civil. Do not use profanity, hate speech, threats, personal abuse, images, internet links or any device to draw undue attention. Comments deemed inappropriate will be removed and repeated abusers will be banned. NOTE: If you log in using your Twitter account, your comments will be signed using the name on your Twitter profile, NOT your Twitter user name. Read our full comment policy.



Sunday, May 19Full Scoreboard
Seattle0Final | Box
Cleveland «6
Toronto0Postponed | Box
NY Yankees0
Arizona1Final | Box
Miami «2
Los Angeles2Top 4th | Box
Atlanta0@theBallpark | TV: FSN-PT, FSN-S, TBS
Tampa Bay3Bottom 8th | Box
Baltimore1@theBallpark | TV: Sun Sports, MASN, WJZ
Cincinnati2Bottom 9th | Box
Philadelphia1@theBallpark | TV: FSN-OH, PHL 17
Houston0Final | Box
Pittsburgh «1
Boston3Top 6th | Box
Minnesota1@theBallpark | TV: NESN, FSN-N
Milwaukee2Bottom 7th | Box
St. Louis4@theBallpark | TV: FSN-WI, MW
NY Mets1Bottom 6th | Box
Chicago Cubs3@theBallpark | TV: WPIX, WGN
Chicago WSox0Bottom 3rd | Box
LA Angels0@theBallpark | TV: CSN-CHI, FSN-W
Kansas City0Bottom 1st | Box
Oakland0@theBallpark | TV: FSN-KC, CSN-CA
San Francisco0Bottom 1st | Box
Colorado0@theBallpark | TV: CSN-BA, ROOT-RM
Washington0Bottom 1st | Box
San Diego0@theBallpark | TV: MASN2, FSN-SD
Detroit 5/19 8:05 PM ET
Texas TV: ESPN
Full Scoreboard
Sunday, May 19Full Scoreboard
Memphis232nd Qtr 5:46 | Box
San Antonio43TV: ABC
Western Conference Finals, Game One.
Full Scoreboard
Week 1Full Scoreboard
Sunday
Miami 8:00 PM ET
Dallas TV: NBC
Full Scoreboard
Sunday, May 19Full Scoreboard
NY Rangers22nd Prd 16:40 | Box
Boston2TV: NBC, RDS, TSN
Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game Two. Boston leads series, 1-0.
Pittsburgh 5/19 7:30 PM ET
Ottawa TV: CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game Three. Pittsburgh leads series, 2-0.
Full Scoreboard