Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Shekaru takwas bayan wasannin Olympics na farko, Lapunova ta cancanci shiga tawagar Ukraine ta uku, a matsayin mai shekaru 23, a Wasannin Olympics na bazara na 2004 a Athens. Ta wuce ta sirri mafi kyau da kuma FINA B-yanke na 2:02.30 a cikin 200 m freestyle daga gasar zakarun duniya
a birnin Madrid, a ƙasar Spain. Ta shawo kan Hanna Miluska na Switzerland don jagorantar zagaye na uku da 0.57 na biyu a 2:02.71. Lapunova ta kasa ci gaba zuwa wasan kusa da na karshe, inda ta sanya ta ashirin da biyu a cikin safiya.