 At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal she won the silver medal in the 400 m behind Irena Szewinska, as well as a gold medal in the 4 x 400 m relay with her teammates Brigitte Rohde, 400 m bronze medalist Ellen Streidt and Doris Maletzki.The next year Lathan won another relay gold medal at the IAAF World Cup 1977.At the 1978 European Championships she won a silver medal in the individual event and another gold medal in 4 x 400 m relay, together with teammates Christiane Marquardt, Barbara Krug and Marita Koch.