Shavarsh karapetyan biography samples
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As a fact, Shavarsh Karapetyan biography is a testimony to the statement that to be a superhero, one doesn’t need a cape.
So dear readers, without wasting any more time, let’s dive deep into one of Armenia’s most popular figures, the Amphibian man’s exciting stories, and learn where is Shavarsh Karapetyan today.
Early Life and Athletic Beginnings
- Shavarsh Vladimiri Karapetyan was born on May 19, 1953, in Armenia, a former Soviet republic.
He is a National Hero of Armenia, an Honorary Citizen of Yerevan, and a recipient of the Order of Honor. He moved to Moscow and founded a shoe company called “Second Breath.” He remains there with his wife and children.
As if Shavarsh hadn’t proven how brave and selfless he was, another incident cemented that legacy.
The Kremlin awarded him the Order of the Badge of Honor and the medal for Salvation of the Drowning. The bus began to sink almost immediately, taking the passengers down with it.
Without hesitation, Shavarsh and Kamo dove into the cold, feces-infested water. When his wife asked him why he had not disclosed this information, he responded, “We need to make babies, not tell stories.” To this day, Shavarsh doesn’t consider his actions heroic or extraordinary.
Unfortunately, only 20 of the 46 survived.
His selfless act came at a heavy price, though. Completely exhausted, he swam through the dark bus and managed to rescue one more body. Despite needing extended medical treatment, he was able to get out of bed after a month and a half and resumed training.
Shortly after recovering, Karapetyan found himself in another accident, this time at a fire in the Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan.
The extraordinary act serves as a powerful example of selflessness, bravery, and the indomitable human spirit.
Similarly, you might want to read about Vince Papale‘s inspiring story.
Symbol of Resilience: How a Lifesaving Act Ended His Sports Career?
Everything has a price, and Karapetyan’s heroic act came at a personal cost.
Neither the people he saved nor the country knew about Karapetyan's heroic act. In 2007, the Karapetyan Charitable Foundation was established.
On March 20, 2020, he was appointed as an Advisor to the Head of Bashkortostan.
Shavarsh Karapetyan – Selfless
“In difficult moments like this, your love for fellow humans grows even stronger.”
In 1953 a boy named Shavarsh Karapetyan was born in Kirovakan within the Soviet Union.
Image Source: Social media
- Karapetyan displayed a strong fondness for finswimming, an underwater sport involving techniques of using fins.
- By the time he was 23, Shavarsh had already become a competitive swimmer with 17-time world championships, 13-time European championships, and a 7-time USSR championships title.
- Karapetyan retired at age 24 with 37 gold medals and 11 world records in his name.
- In 1975, Karapetyan served in a Soviet Air Defence Forces base in the Baku military district for a year.
The damage to his lungs was so severe that it ultimately ended his swimming career for good.
Other Heroic Acts And Accomplishments
Shavarsh Karapetyan always seemed to be in the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time. Mucus was coming up from my lungs. Therefore, before the 1976 Olympics, Shavarsh was considered to be a shoo-in to represent the Soviet Union in swimming.
Once again, he saved numerous lives but suffered burns in the process. When Armenian fin swimmer Shavarsh Karapetyan did a heroic act decades ago, his heroism became an international folk tale.
For those who don’t know about the 1976 Trolleybus incident, we suggest you read the article and learn about the retired finswimmer’s legacy.
“Of course, I was hurt by the glass. When asked why he did what he did, he nonchalantly responded, “I was simply closer to the crash than anyone else.” He also admitted that he would have rather died than not jump into the water that day. That seat still haunts me in my nightmares.”
In total, Shavarsh directly saved 20 lives, and another 26 people were able to swim up from the bottom after the window was shattered.
He received over 60,000 letters from his fellow citizens praising him for his selflessness. Unbeknownst to anyone else, 92 passengers were trapped inside the submerged bus.