Artyn Elmayan, Role Model and Legend. River says goodbye to its eldest sportsman, who passed away this Monday at 100 years old.

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His friends used to say ‘He is the greatest of The Greatest’ when they saw him playing at the courts of the Monumental. That ritual repeated itself for two or three times a week for over four decades. Born in Armenia and adopted by River Plate, Artyn Elmayan lived 100 years of love for sports and, while defending River’s jersey, he became the eldest associated tennis player of the world.

Born on the 5th of April of 1917, Artyn arrived in Argentina at 21, and, as time passed by, he made the club his home and the place where he would develop the great passion he discovered as an adult: tennis.

In April of this year, surrounded by his friends and colleagues, he celebrated his 100 birthday at River, while he was still playing and surprising everybody with his skills at the clay courts.

Artyn won 27 titles in the Senior category of the Argentine Tennis Association and played at international tournaments. He placed in the ranking’s top 10 of the categories +60, +70 and +75. In addition, with 93 years he placed third in the +80 World Ranking.

Today, the River Plate family says goodbye to a global sports legend and a huge example to all.