A fan greets Alex Zanardi in 2016 after he won a silver medal in the course of the Paralympics Games, in Rio de Janeiro

Italian previous Components A single driver and Paralympic biking champion Alex Zanardi nevertheless faces a extensive highway to restoration a lot more than a yr on from a near-fatal handbike accident, his spouse Daniela explained on Thursday.

In an job interview with BMW Motorsport, she explained the 54-yr-old was in a secure issue but could not communicate.

“He is ready to undergo teaching programmes for both of those his mind and his human body. He can connect with us, but he is nevertheless not able to communicate,” she explained.

“Soon after a extensive time in a coma, the vocal cords need to regain their elasticity. This is only doable through exercise and treatment. He nevertheless has a ton of energy in his arms and palms, and is teaching intensively on the products.

“It is a quite extensive journey and at the second no predictions are built on when he will be ready to return dwelling.”

Zanardi underwent various operations after being put in an induced coma adhering to the June 19, 2020, accident when having element in a highway race in Italy on a handbike.

A double Champ Motor vehicle champion in the United States, the driver had to have both of those of his legs amputated earlier mentioned the knee adhering to a horrific crash in a race in Germany in September 2001.

He recovered to return to the observe in touring cars and trucks with BMW right before later on having up paracycling and winning four Paralympic gold medals.