[2] Ponomaryova became interested in athletics in 1947,[2] when she entered the Physical Training Faculty of the Stavropol Pedagogical Institute.

Her first official performance was in 1948 at the Stavropol Krai Championships, where she set a new regional record at 30.53 m. After just three years of training she became one of the leading Soviet athletes.

[2] In 1952, she was a member of the Soviet team, which participated in the Olympic Games for the first time in history.

I am the first Soviet Olympic Champion, you know, the first record-holder of the 15th Olympiad...Tears were stinging my eyes.

In Russian:Только ощутив в руке тяжелый золотой кружок, я осознала, что произошло.