 Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Balakhnichev aive mutambi weSoviet Union, akatora nzvimbo yechitatu mumamita 110 zvipingamupinyi pamakwikwi emunyika ya1973 uye akamiririra nyika yake pa1973 European Indoor Championships. Akasiya basa semutambi anoshanda muna 1976 gore mushure mekugamuchira dhigirii rake kubva kuMoscow Power Engineering University ndokutanga basa rake semurairidzi. Akanga ari murairidzi wenyika yeSoviet kubva muna 1978 kusvika muna 1984. Iye kubvira ipapo akawana PhD uye chiremba wezvesayenzi mune dzidziso uye nzira yekudzidzisa muviri uye kudzidziswa kwemitambo. 