The 55-year-old, who won four golds and two silvers at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics, was involved in a serious accident in June 2020 while competing in the Italian national road race between Pienza and San Quirico, losing control of his handbike while descending a hill, hitting an oncoming truck.

He was airlifted to the Santa Maria alle Scotte Hospital in Siena where he was in intensive care before being transferred to a hospital in Padua in November of that year closer to his home.

In December 2020 he regained his sight and hearing and was able to communicate non-verbally and the following month he was able to regain his speech following surgery.

Zanardi competed in Formula One (F1) and motorsport series, mostly during the 1990s.

He had 41 race starts in F1 for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams.

Following the 1999 F1 season, the Italian returned to the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series for 2001, having won the 1997 and 1998 titles.

However at the 2001 American Memorial at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany, Zanardi was involved in a serious crash after leaving the pit lane and losing control of his car, leading to a double amputation of his legs and his move into Para sport.