[2] Knysh was born in Kapyl, Minsk Region in September 1931, and was the Belarusian junior champion in 1949.

After the 1972 Olympics, as part of the Soviet delegation, Knysh met with US President Richard Nixon.

[4][6] He worked on drafting a proposal of benefits for Russian athletes in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, but it did not win approval.

[9] In 1999, Olga Korbut stated publicly that she had been physically and sexually abused by Knysh while he trained her, and that he had raped her shortly before the 1972 Olympics, after plying her with cognac.

She alleged that the abuse continued for several years, until Knysh moved on to younger girls.