At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Tatarov swam only in the 100 m breaststroke. He achieved a FINA B-standard entry time of 1:05.53 from the Russian Open Championships in Saint Petersburg. He established a Moldovan record of 1:04.12 to power past the entire field with an unexpected triumph in heat three, coming from an outside lane. Tatarov's first-place effort was not enough to put him through to the semifinals, as he placed thirty-sixth overall in the prelims.