 Other than world record holder Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, only two athletes, Pamela Jelimo of Kenya, in 2008, and Caster Semenya of South Africa, in 2018, have come within a second of Olizarenko's mark since it was set.Olizarenko won the 1986 European title in the 800 m, but failed to reach the final in this event at the 1988 Olympics.She still holds the world record in the 4×800 m relay set in 1984.