The Superhero Swimmer: Shavarsh Karapetyan
The Armenian champion used his athletic ability to save the lives of strangers
Professional athletes are some of the most dedicated and determined people on the planet. They push their bodies to the limit and their actions evolve into muscle memory. Their training makes their bodies seem able to do the impossible, as if they were not even human. Maybe that’s why they are so revered, like some kind of supernatural superhero.
But what about those who are professional athletes and heroes?
One of these is former champion swimmer, Shavarsh Karapetyan.
Who Was Shavarsh Karapetyan Before He Was a Hero?
Shavarsh Karapetyan was born in Armenia, then a part of the Soviet Union, on May 19, 1953.
In 1966, his father enrolled him in gymnastics, which he excelled at. However, the coaches said that Shavarsh began training too late to become a champion and recommended swimming for the young athlete.
Through failure and the help of then lifeguard, Liparit Almasakyan, he found his passion: finswimming.
He became a competitive swimmer and was a 17-time world champion, 13-time European champion, and 7-time USSR champion by the…
