Smolka ranked third at the Soviet Athletics Championships and was chosen for the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a result. She reached the final at the Moscow Games and placed sixth in the 1500 metres final. That year she also set a best in the 3000 metres with 8:36.0 minutes. Her sole international medal came at the 1981 European Athletics Indoor Championships, where she was bronze medallist in the 1500 m, behind Italy's Agnese Possamai and fellow Soviet Valentina Ilyinykh.