at the 2000 summer olympics in sydney, tatarov swam only in the 100 m breaststroke. he achieved a fina b-standard entry time of 1:05.53 from the russian open championships in saint petersburg. he established a moldovan record of 1:04.12 to power past the entire field with an unexpected triumph in heat three, coming from an outside lane. tatarov's first-place effort was not enough to put him through to the semifinals, as he placed thirty-sixth overall in the prelims.