- In 1988, he won the Grand Prix in Neuss, Germany, and the FILA Grand Prix Gala of the International Amateur Wrestling Federation in Budapest.
- Karelin was awarded by "Golden Bough" in 2002 by FILA.
- Served in the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- At the age of 15, he broke his leg, after which his mother even burned his uniform and forbade him to engage in wrestling. But he did not give up his favorite pastime.
- The "reverse belt" was Aleksandr Karelin's signature throw - in the heavyweight division only he could perform such a throw.
- He is included in the Guinness Book of Records as an athlete who has not lost a single fight for thirteen years.
- He was the flagbearer of the National Team at the opening of three Olympic Games: 1988 - USSR, 1992 - CIS, 1996 - Russia.
- Participated in the ceremony of bringing the Olympic flame to the stadium during the opening of the Sochi 2014: XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) on February 7, 2014.
- Over the course of his entire sports career, he won 888 fights.
- In 1986, at a tournament in Sweden, world champion Thomas Johansson refused to fight Karelin in the final, and 1st place was given to Karelin.
- The first at the age of 21 became the youngest Olympic champion up to 130 kg Greco-Roman style.
- For 6 years he did not lose a single point in all official fights.
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