At age six, Alexander Abt was sent by his grandmother to the ice rink, in order to keep himself healthy. His progress has been held back by several injuries which nearly ended his career. In the summer of 1996, he cut the muscle in his right thigh with his left blade when crashing into the border during an exhibition in Mexico. Following this accident he had to remain in hospital for weeks. He suffered from a sinus infection at Europeans 2001 and collapsed after the free skating in the kiss and cry area. Abt married his girlfriend, former ice dancer Elena Pavlova in April 1999. Their son Makar was born in March 2000. Abt left his coach of eleven years, Rafael Arutunian, in May 2002 to train with Alexander Zhulin. Abt was forced to miss the 2003 European Championships due to an ankle injury.