Shavarsh Karapetyan is a retired Soviet finswimmer known for his heroic act of saving 20 lives in a 1976 bus incident in Armenia. He dove into sewage-infested waters to rescue passengers from a sinking trolleybus. Despite developing pneumonia and sepsis from his injuries, Karapetyan set a world record despite lung complications. He became a renowned athlete, winning numerous championships and accolades for his sportsmanship and bravery, including a UNESCO “Fair Play” award. Karapetyan’s inspiring story of courage and selflessness resonated across the USSR, earning him widespread recognition and admiration for his incredible achievements both in and out of the water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavarsh_Karapetyan