Shavarch Karapetyan: A Renowned Athlete with Many International Titles in Scuba Diving2 photos

Shavarch Karapetyan is a well-known athlete who has won numerous international titles in scuba diving. However, his world-wide fame stems not so much from his athletic achievements as from his courage and bravery.

Shavarch Vladimirovich Karapetyan was born on May 19, 1953, in Kirovakan, Armenia. He has been involved in sports since he was a child.

On September 16, 1976, a bus carrying 92 passengers along the dam of the Yerevan Reservoir crashed into the water. Shavarch happened to be at the scene; together with his brother Kamo, he immediately jumped into the cold water to save people.

Through incredible efforts, he managed to rescue 20 people. Although he pulled more passengers out of the sinking bus, not all of them survived. Today, experts agree that Karapetyan was one of the very few people in the world physically capable of such a feat.

Due to the closed nature of the Soviet system, information about this incident remained undisclosed for many years. Only in 1982, after an article about the event was published in the "Literary Gazette," did Karapetyan’s name become widely known.

This heroic act cost Karapetyan severe lung injuries and a blood infection. Despite needing prolonged treatment, he returned to training shortly after recovering. However, not long after, he was involved in another emergency: a fire at the Yerevan Sports and Concert Complex. Once again, he risked his life to save people and suffered burns in the process. He spent a week in the hospital.

After recovering, Karapetyan continued his training and set another world record in the 400-meter scuba diving event—his last one in his sporting career. Due to his injuries, he was unable to pursue a professional sports career anymore and eventually turned to business, opening a shoe manufacturing company in Moscow. He also became the honorary president of the Russian Scuba Diving Association.

As a distinguished athlete, Karapetyan has received numerous honors, including the title of "Honored Citizen of Yerevan" and the "Order of Honor." For his courage and nobility, he was the first Soviet athlete to receive the UNESCO award "Fair Play," despite not having performed his heroic act on a sports field.

Today, Shavarch Vladimirovich Karapetyan lives and works in Moscow. Every year in Russia, competitions are held in his honor. In 2007, a Karapetyan Foundation was established to support charitable causes.