Back at the 2005 Laureus World Sports Award, it was the inspiring Alessandro Zanardi’s remarkable courage that won him the Comeback of the Year Award.
This was following his return to motor racing having lost both his legs in a horrific crash just four years earlier.
Zanardi receives his award from Teri Hatcher
His 2001 accident in the European Memorial CART race in Lausitz, Germany was one of the worst ever seen.
His car spun coming out of the pits and was hit by another coming down the straight at 200mph. The impact was so great that his vehicle was ripped in two.
Demonstrating incredible commitment and passion, Zanardi returned to motor racing in October 2003 and went on to complete a full season in the European Touring Car championship in 2004.
On his return, he drove a specially adapted car in which the throttle was mounted on the upper part of the steering wheel, the brake pedal was shaped to prevent the driver’s artificial limb from losing grip, whilst the clutch actuated through a button on the gear lever.
Though his return to his sport in this way made him worthy of recognition by the Laureus Academy, Zanardi’s journey following this has gone on to show how inspirational a figure he truly is.
Though he retired from motor racing in 2009, it certainly wasn’t because he was finished with sport altogether.
That’s because he would now focus on the new sport he had adopted since 2007: hand cycling.
From the very start, success came remarkably quickly.
In 2007 he achieved 4th place in the New York City Marathon in the handcycle division after only four weeks of training.
By the end of 2011, however, Zanardi had finally won the New York Marathon at his fourth attempt. He added this first place finish to previous victories at the Venice Marathon in 2009 and the Rome Marathon in 2010.
Perhaps his most exciting achievement of the past year, however, has been his qualifying to race for the Italian team at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Zanardi may be approaching 46 by the time the Games come around later this year, but considering his achievements so far, it’s a safe bet he will be chasing nothing but gold.
Layne Beachley has made an unbelievable return to international surfing by winning the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in El Salvador.
Layne Beachley in action
Have you ever seen an Olympic gymnast take a boxing lesson from an undisputed world boxing champion?
Well, this was precisely what happened today at the Laureus Sport for Good Global Summit when five time Olympic gold medallist Nadia Comaneci was joined by the legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a south London gym.
Marvelous Marvin helps Nadia with her boxing gloves...
...but the lesson doesn't last too long.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Nadia Comaneci were spending the last day of the Laureus Summit at a youth sports facility in south London along with other Laureus Academy Members Sean Fitzpatrick, Ilie Nastase, Franz Klammer, Mark Spitz, Hugo Porta, Mick Doohan, Dawn Fraser and Michael Johnson.
The Laureus Academy Members at the south London sports centre
The Academy Members were there to learn first hand how Laureus-supported projects are using sport to help young people the world over.
To do this, project leaders from PeacePlayers International led a basketball session attended by Ilie Nastase and Nadia Comaneci.
The KickFair project was at the centre to hold a football session attended by Franz Klammer, Mick Doohan and Hugo Porta.
And leaders from the MYSA and Coaching for Hope projects led a touch rugby session with Sean Fitzpatrick and Mark Spitz.
Of course, organisers from Fight for Peace held a boxing workshop attended by Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
It was a really special experience for the project leaders to meet the Academy Members and to show them how their projects really can change the lives of children for the better.
To learn more about what Laureus-supported projects are doing accross the world, be sure to follow us on Twitter @LaureusSport
“It’s taken quite a few years… but it’s happening.”
Opening the Laureus Sport for Good Summit in the heart of London, Edwin Moses addressed the excited audience to express how long he had looked forward to this event taking place.
And what an event it is.
Not only are project leaders from all over the world coming together to share ideas, but they are also being joined by a host of Laureus Academy Members.
Edwin was really enthusiastic about what a great opportunity this would be for project leaders as far afield as London to South Africa to learn about tackling issues that affect all countries equally.
But before the talks could begin, Academy Member Sean Fitzpatrick, still celebrating his beloved All Blacks’ victory at the Rugby World Cup, was keen to teach all those present something a little different: The famous ‘haka’.
The New Zealand dance made famous by the All Blacks.
And luckily it was recorded for you all to take a look at.
But before he gave his haka lesson, Sean had some slightly more serious things to discuss.
And they go to the heart of how sport has shown to be such a unique tool in helping communities the world over.
Sean said: ” It has been a difficult year [for New Zealand]. There has recently been disasters like the container ship off the coast of New Zealand leaking oil into the sea, the mining tragedy and, of course, the terrible earthquakes that struck Christchurch. But having the World Cup really helped… Sport has played an enormous part in building morale once again.”
If there is one lasting memory of this year’s Rugby World Cup, it is how sport really can bring joy to people after they have suffered terrible pain.
This was the case for an entire nation following the All Blacks’ victory over France at the World Cup Final, but it is also the case for a remarkably talented young rugby coach from Soweto in South Africa.
The name of this young coach is Bongiwe Nhleko, or ‘Bongi’ to her friends.
Bongi (top row, centre)
For Bongi, following a difficult childhood that included both hardship and tragedy, rugby has offered her chances in life she might never have imagined possible. Read more
