She was born in Nizhyn, Soviet Union and raised by her mother after her father left when she was three.

In 2001, she was named Person of the Year in Ukraine for Sports, ahead of former heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko and footballer Andriy Shevchenko.

[5] Her husband and coach, Mark Block, was given a 10-year ban from sport for receiving performance-enhancing drugs as part of the BALCO scandal.

She has never won an Olympic medal but she managed to finish in fourth place in the 100 m final in Sydney.

Her 100 metres personal best time of 10.82 seconds was set in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 6 August 2001.