Shabalin began skating aged four in Samara – although pushed into the sport by his parents, he grew to enjoy it by the age of 11.[2] He began competing in ice dancing aged 11 or 12.[2] At the age of 15, he moved to Bulgaria to skate with Margarita Toteva for that country but the partnership ended due to her injury.[2][3] He then competed with Elena Khalyavina for Russia.[2]
Shabalin sustained a meniscus injury in spring 2007 and had surgery on his right knee in May.[4][6] They initially worked on a free dance to Schindler's List but when they wanted to add a faster section they thought it looked too much like a hodgepodge; after consultation with Tatiana Tarasova, they began working on a new free dance to Masquerade Waltz at the start of August.[6] In September 2007, Shabalin also had surgery due to appendicitis.[4] He then had problems with his left knee and had another operation in December.[4] He returned to win the 2008 Europeans but limped off the ice.[4][6] The pain persisted despite therapy, preventing them from training fully and resulting in their withdrawal from the 2008 World Championships.[4] Shabalin spent five weeks in treatment in Munich, Germany, while Domnina trained on her own in Odintsovo, near Moscow.[4]
Domnina/Shabalin won the silver medal at the 2008-09 Grand Prix Final, and then took gold at 2009 Worlds. Afterwards, Shabalin returned to Germany for another four months of therapy on his left knee.[8] They missed the 2009–10 Grand Prix series as a result of his knee problems.[8] They resumed training in November 2009. Shabalin decided to use a brace in practice and competition to limit the movement and protect his knee.[8]
Domnina/Shabalin perform their controversial original dance at the 2010 Olympics.
Their original dance based on Australian Aboriginal folk dances sparked controversy in early 2010. Australian Aboriginal leaders were offended by the dance. Domnina/Shabalin said they meant no disrespect and would do the dance at the Olympics. When it was first skated at the 2010 Russian Championships, they wore face makeup but removed it for the 2010 European Championships.[9] Domnina/Shabalin won the bronze medal at the 2010 Olympics and withdrew from the World Championships as a result of continued problems with his knee. He was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.[10] Shabalin received the Overcoming Award at the 2010 Crystal Ice Awards held in October 2010 in Moscow.[11][12] He was also appointed head coach of the Russian national ice dancing team.[13]
Personal life
Shabalin was born on 25 January 1982 in Samara, Russia.[14] He studied civil administration.[6] He married Russian actress Irina Grineva in November 2010.[10][15] Their daughter, Vasilisa, was born on 6 July 2013 in Marbella, Spain.[16]
Programs
With Domnina
Domnina/Shabalin perform their Spartacus free dance at the 2009 Worlds.
Domnina/Shabalin sit with coaches, Gennadi Karponosov and Natalia Linichuk, following their original dance at the 2008-09 Grand Prix Final.Domnina/Shabalin at the 2008 European Championships.
^Yakovleva, Arina (4 December 2010). Свадьба Ирины Гриневой и Макса Шабалина [Wedding of Irina Grineva and Maxim Shabalin] (in Russian). spletnik.ru. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
