In 1943 at the age of 20, Shahinyan volunteered to fight in the front line in World War II and received a wounded leg during service.

He had to walk with a stick afterward, but after undergoing treatment in 1946 and through much hard work, was able to become a member of the USSR Artistic Gymnastic National Team.

As a member of the Soviet Union national team, Shahinyan competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

Two years later at the 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Shahinyan became a World Champion in the pommel horse by winning the gold medal of the event and the Soviet team won the gold medal in the Team All-Around once again.

But those difficulties notwithstanding, 90 percent of Armenian athletes on Soviet Olympic teams came back with medals.