YALTA, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. 56-year-old Igor Nersesian of the city of Yalta failed to carry out his greatest project to swim across the Black Sea due to the absense of sponsors. However, his other world records have not been surpassed so far, Yerkramas paper of Russia's Armenians reported. "A man-dolphin, the living legend of Yalta beaches, a remarkable life-guard, a 120-kg bearded robust man," this is how the paper's correspondent described Igor Nersesian, noting that on a stormy day he together with his fellow life-guards rescued more than ten people. Igor Nersesian was the first Armenian to be included in the Guinness Book of Records. In April 1988, he swam for 3.5 hours in the sea at the temperature of 6-8 degrees Celsius. After passing the "cold endurance" test, on June 1st of the same year he dived into sea at the "nose" of Bear Mount and swam through Yalta Bay to Swallow's Nest. He passed nonstop 32 km in 13 hours without grasping the edge of the accompanying boat even for a moment. He also managed to swim across Lake Sevan. Igor's plans also include Lakes Baikal and Ladoga and the Black Sea. He is prepared to realize these ideas even tomorrow provided he finds sponsors, Yerkramas wrote, quoting Igor Nersesian as saying: "Here, amid this beauty, I feel myself a hero standing at the world's end. I stand expecting Odysseus with his men to come suddenly and say: "Well, Igor, it is time for you to start. Use all resources." And I will do so.

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