She won five Olympic medals in 1964, 1968 and 1972 and five European Championships medals in 1966 and 1970. Her first Olympic medal, the gold in 200 m breaststroke in 1964, was the first Olympic gold in swimming for the Soviet Union. In 1964–1966 she set five world records: four in 200 m and one in 100 m breaststroke events. Between 1963 and 1972 she won 15 national titles and set 27 national records.