Paralympics 2016: Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi claims gold 15 years after losing his legs in crash

It was Zanardi's third gold after triumphing twice in London 2012

Alex Zanardi is a multiple-time Paralympic medallist (Getty Images)

On the eve of the 15^th anniversary since losing his legs in a motorsport accident, former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi has won a gold medal in the Paralympics.

Hand-cyclist Zanardi triumphed in the H5 road time trial in Rio on Wednesday, four years after picking up two gold medals in London in the H4 time trial and the H4 road race.

The former Lotus and Williams driver needed to have both legs amputated in 2001 while racing in Indy Car in America after crashing into another car at 200mph.

Zanardi lost both of his legs in an Indy Car race (Getty Images) (Getty)

Despite returning to motorsport only two years after his crash, Zanardi took up hand-cycling in 2007 and despite winning eight world titles and three Paralympic medals since then, the 49-year-old insisted he was no more remarkable that the other 4,300 athletes competing.

"Even my accident, what happened to me, became the biggest opportunity of my life," he said. "All the things I am doing today are related to my new condition.

"When you find yourself in a certain situation you have to identify where you want to go and focus on what you can achieve on that given day.

"Whether it is a small thing or big one, step-by-step you can make things happen.

"At the time I was asked if I would ever step back in a race car, but what was very important for me was to go into the bathroom and pee on my own, but I could not do that.

"I had to be helped. That was my number one priority. Day by day I managed to regain control and strength, regain some confidence and concentrate on different things and here I am now.

"I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.

"Where today you have the Olympic Stadium, on that piece of land they used to have an Indy Car circuit, which is where I won my very first pole position - for a romantic guy like me this is quite special."