Rio de Janeiro (BR), 16th September 2016. Alessandro Zanardi (IT)
added another gold medal to his collection of para-cycling successes:
On Friday, he won the handbike team-relay at the Rio de Janeiro
Paralympic Games* (BR) with the Italian national team. Zanardi and his
team-mates, Vittorio Podesta (IT) and Luca Mazzone (IT), took an early
lead and after 32 minutes and 34 seconds Zanardi crossed the finish
line – already celebrating in the final metres. He had a clear
advantage of 47 seconds over the US team, who secured the silver
medal, despite the fact that on his last lap he had to overcome an
unexpected obstacle – a dog. Bronze went to Belgium.
For Zanardi, the team-relay marked a brilliant finish to successful
days in Rio. Three races in three days, two gold medals and one silver
medal: this is his haul. On Wednesday, the 49-year old won the time
trial in the handbike H5 category, on Thursday he finished second in
the road race in this category, and now he has triumphed with the
national team in the team relay. In total, Zanardi has now won six
Paralympic* medals: four gold and two silver.
“Today was the last day of my Brazilian Paralympic journey and to end
it that way with my team, with my mates, was very special. Because
sharing makes the joy even greater,” said Zanardi. “We had an amazing
performance, all three of us, and we literally dominated the team
relay, beating the United States with a big advantage. The race
started really well with Vittorio pulling out a gap immediately and
then Luca extended that gap even further. Then it was my turn, and I
had so much will to do well with it being the last day of our journey.
I did a very good performance and extended our advantage to over 40
seconds. But then on my final lap I encountered the biggest risk of
our day: A big dog crossed the road just round a corner, which was
quite blind. I did not hit the dog, but I had to slap it with one of
my hands to get it out of the way. It was pretty funny because that
would have been the only way we could have lost it, strong as we were.”
“To bring home another gold medal is very special and we are going to
celebrate tonight,” Zanardi added. “We are very proud of our win and I
am personally very proud of the two gold medals and the silver medal I
am taking home. Because of this, I equalled the result I had four
years ago in London. Being able to be in this position in spite of my
age is something very special. I have to admit that I was a bit lucky
to win the time trial by only two seconds. You can’t say that I was
clearly better – but I was a bit luckier, and at my age that was quite
an achievement. Looking back on the road race: in another situation I
could have won it, but I have to say that maybe I was not completely
the Zanardi I have been on other days. But I managed to finish second
and to beat fantastic athletes, very determined and much younger than
me. In the team relay we put together a very solid performance, as
together as a team we were in a dominant form. To win another gold
medal is the very best way to finish this exciting Brazilian adventure
for the three of us. I am going home very happy and am really grateful
to everyone who supported me on this journey.”
Zanardi is one of the most successful para-cyclists worldwide. In
addition to his six Paralympic* medals he has also won eight world
championship titles.
*Note:
BMW is not a sponsor or partner of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio
de Janeiro.