September 16, 1976 - Shavarsh Karapetyan, a 13-time European Champion, and seven-time Soviet Union Champion finswimmer, risked his life to save passengers onboard a trolleybus, which had gone out of control and driven into the Yerevan reservoir in Armenia. Karapetyan had just completed a 12-mile training run with his brother when he heard the sound of the crash and saw the sinking trolleybus some 80 feet from the shore. Without hesitation Karapetyan and his brother jumped into the water and swam to the trolley, which was now resting at the bottom, 33 feet below the surface. Karapetyan dove down and was able to kick out the back window of the bus and begin hauling people to the surface where he would hand them off to his brother, who helped them to the shore. His efforts were hindered by conditions of almost zero visibility due to the mud kicked up by the bus, nevertheless over the course of approximately 15 minutes Karapetyan was able to rescue 20 of the 92 passengers onboard. His heroic efforts took a toll on Karapetyan and marked the end of his athletic career. The combined effects of the cold water and multiple cuts he received from the broken glass of the window left him in a coma for 45 days after the accident. Furthermore, he developed sepsis due to the raw sewage that was in the water. Due to the secrecy of the Soviet Union, Karapetyan’s achievement was not recognized immediately. The photos and details of the accident were not released for two years after which Karapetyan was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor for his efforts.