Career
During the Soviet period of his career Atavin trained at Dynamo in Astrakhan. He became the Honoured Master of Sports of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics in 1988 and competed for the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics National Team between 1988 and 1991. He played all six matches and scored 23 goals.
Since 1992 he competed for Russia.
Atavin graduated from Astrakhan Institute of Fish Industry and Economics in 1990.