Salnikova received a wild card invitation from FINA to compete as a lone Georgian female swimmer in the 100 m breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Tying for first at the initial length of the opening heat, she fought off a sprint challenge from Libya's Asmahan Farhat by just the slimmest of the margins for the top spot, but nearly faded down the last stroke to touch the wall with a second-place time in 1:21.70. Salnikova failed to advance to the semifinals, as she placed forty-eighth overall in the preliminary heats.