As a youth, Andrei (back row, third from the left) left his home in Siberia for advanced training as an athlete in what today is St. Petersburg.
Juba noorpõlves lahkus Andrei (tagumises reas vasakult kolmas) oma kodust Siberist, et jätkata sportlasena treeninguid linnas, mille nimi praegu on Peterburi.