Krivoshapka's international breakthrough came in 2009, when she set a personal best of 50.55 s over 400 m indoors to win the Russian indoor championships, and subsequently won the 400 m gold medal at the 2009 European Indoor Championships. At the same championships she won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay with teammates Natalya Antyukh, Darya Safonova and Yelena Voynova. Later that year, during the semifinals at the Russian national championships in Cheboksary, she lowered her outdoor 400 m personal best by nearly a full second by running 49.29 s, the second-fastest time in the world that year. She went on to win the national title in 49.71 s. With these performances, Krivoshapka was considered one of the favorites for a medal in the 400 m at the World Championships in Berlin. In the 400 m final, she won the bronze medal in 49.71 s, behind Sanya Richards and Shericka Williams. She initially won another bronze medal in the 4×400 m relay, where she anchored the Russian team.