Career
Shubina was born in a family of a phone communications engineer in Mordovia. In 1944 she enrolled to a gynecology school, and after graduating worked at a regional hospital. A keen cross-country skier and runner, she used to ski or run to work.
In 1950 she enrolled to Kazan State Medical University, where she continued training and competing in ski and athletics.
Her first canoe race was accidental – she was asked to replace a missing teammate. She did not even know how to swim.
A canoe coach noticed her then and convinced to start training. In 1956 Shubina graduated from the Kazan University, and later studied sport medicine in Saint St. Petersburg.