german borisovich khan was born on 24 october 1961 in kiev, ukraine. the son of ukrainian jewish parents from lviv, his father was a metallurgy professor. khan had a keen interest in sports at a young age, and during high school he developed a long-term interest in boxing, citing the sport as an influence on building confidence and self-discipline. khan graduated from high school in 1978 and subsequently worked for a year as an apprentice on a shop floor of a factory. he then studied mechanical engineering at the kiev-pedagogical college, graduating in 1982. 1983 he enrolled in the moscow institute of steel and alloys (misis), where he specialised in the study of steel production. after graduating from college in 1988, khan operated small businesses such as the clothing cooperative "alexandrina" he founded with a partner, where he served as deputy chairman and handled supply chain and sales before its sale in 1990.