ROME, May 5 (Bernama-dpa) -- Thousands of people gathered in Padua, northern Italy on Tuesday to pay their respects to Paralympic champion and ex-Formula One driver Alessandro Zanardi, who died last weekend at the age of 59, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Zanardi's coffin was greeted with applause in front of the Basilica of Santa Giustina, where a large crowd gathered despite the rain.
His wife, Daniela, and son, Niccolò, acknowledged the crowd with gestures.
Niccolò shared memories of everyday life with his father and said he learned from him that it isn't the big challenges that matter, but rather finding joy in the little things.
Zanardi competed in more than 40 Formula One races between 1991 and 1999. He scored one solitary point.
He drove for the likes of Lotus and Williams, where he was a team-mate of Ralf Schumacher.
After his Formula One career ended, he suffered a life-changing accident after a pit stop during a CART series race at the Lausitzring in Germany. His legs had to be amputated.
He later enjoyed success in hand-cycling at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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