Domnina/Shabalin teamed up in spring 2002. Before, both had competed successfully at the international junior level with different partners. Domnina started to skate at the age of six and went into dance two years later. She left her home town of Kirov at 15 in order to train under Gorshkov. Shabalin left his home town of Samara at the age of 15 as well to train in Bulgaria and then returned to Russia. Shabalin underwent meniscus surgery on the right knee in May 2007, appendix surgery in September 2007 and two other meniscus surgeries on the left knee in December 2007 and March 2008. The couple missed the 2008 World Championships due to his ongoing knee problems. Domnina/Shabalin switched coaches in June 2008 and moved to the USA to train under Linitchuk and Karpanossov, the 1980 Olympic Champions. They withdrew from the 2009 European Championships as he hurt his knee again during the Compulsory Dance. They missed the 09/10 ISU Grand Prix series due to his knee problems.