 Olizarenko took up athletics in 1967, together with her sister Natasha, who later became athletics coach.Next year she won the 400 m event at the Soviet Junior Championships, and became a member of the Soviet junior athletics team.She was included into the Soviet senior team in 1977, and debuted internationally as a senior at the 1978 European Championships, where she won silver medals in the 800 and 4×400 m relay.