Nina Rocheva (then Selyunina) made her international début at the 1974 World Championships, where she won a gold as a member of the Soviet relay team. She was not selected to the 1976 Soviet Winter Olympic team, but she competed at the 1978 World Championships, where she won bronze in the relay and was eighth at 10 km. At the 1980 Winter Olympics, Rocheva was again successful in the relay by winning a silver and she was 15th in the 5 km. Domestically she won three Soviet titles – in the 30 km in 1978 and in the relay in 1978 and 1980. Her husband Vasily, her son Vasily, her daughter Olga, as well as her daughers-in-law Olga Rochewa and Yulia Chepalova, were also cross-country skiers, as husband Vasily won gold and silver at the 1980 Winter Olympics and son Vasily a bronze at the 2006 Winter Olympics.