barsukova won many rhythmic gymnastics titles after her emergence in major competitions as a second member of the russian team. she won gold in hoop at the 2000 world cup final in glasgow and then gold at the 2000 sydney olympics after a hoop fumble by then-world champion, alina kabaeva. she was the 2000 european all-around bronze medalist and won the rope final at the 2000 european championships (9.983). she was the oldest olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics—21 years, 8 months and 27 days—until fellow russian evgenia kanaeva won her second gold medal at london 2012 being aged 22 years, 4 months and 7 days.