In 2000, she ran a personal best of 2:04.74 minutes for the 800 m and placed sixth in the event at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics. In 2001, she gained entrance into Kiev's National University of Physical Training and Sports – the top sports university in the country. At the 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships she was the bronze medallist but later reflected that she did not approach the competition professionally, having gone on a long shopping trip just hours before the final. She reduced her best to 2:02.41 minutes in 2002 and competed twice internationally in 2003, running in the heats at the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships and coming seventh at the 2003 European Athletics U23 Championships.