r/interesting Oct 04 '24

In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic swimmer, saves 20 people trapped in a bus that sank 80' offshore. It took him several hours to save them all, and he suffered injuries that put him in the hospital for 45 days—it ended his Olympic career. HISTORY

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u/Serve_me_the_pizza Oct 04 '24

The combined effect of multiple lacerations from glass shards led to Karapetyan’s hospitalization for 45 days, as he developed pneumonia and sepsis. Subsequent lung complications prevented Karapetyan from continuing his sports career. He did, however, insist on one last meet despite his damaged lungs, and managed to set a new world record despite the pain.

Getting a world record after all of that is insane.

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u/tehjosh Oct 04 '24

That man has the will of a champion. Love to see it.