Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Bayan da ta kasa yin wasannin Olympics na Seoul na 1988, ta lashe babbar lambar yabo ta mutum lokacin da ta ci nasara a Wasannin Dalibai na Duniya na 1989 (Universiade). A cikin 1990, (a matsayin Margarita Ponomaryova), ta gama ta biyar a wasan karshe na Gasar Turai
a cikin Split. Ta lashe Kofin Zakarun Turai na 1991 a gaban Sally Gunnell, kafin ta kammala na takwas a wannan shekarar a wasan karshe na Gasar Cin Kofin Duniya a Tokyo.