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Last updated: July 14, 2009

Tabitha Ann Yim was born in Los Angeles, California on November 2, 1985. She was the daughter of Inja and Howard. She has one older brother, Jonathan. She began gymnastics in 1988. Tabitha trained for most of her elite career at Charter Oak Gliders. She was coached by Steve and Beth Rybacki. Before Charter Oak, she trained at Gymmax.

Her first national championships were in 1998. She placed 22nd all around. The next year she moved up to second all around. Also in 1999, she finished seventh all-around at the American Classic. She competed in two international meets, the USA-France Dual Meet and the USA-Canada Dual Meet. In 2000, her final year as a junior, she placed third all around and won the floor exercise. She won the American Classic.

Tabitha had a fantastic year in 2001. She finished second all-around at the US Classic. She won beam. She became the national floor champion in the senior division and placed second in the all around to Olympian Tasha Schwikert. By finishing second all around she qualified to the 2001 World Championships. She helped the team to a bronze medal. Tabitha qualified to the individual event finals on floor. She also competed in the all-around finals. At the Pan American Championships, Tabitha placed third all-around and first on beam.

Following the world championships, Tabitha was invited to the Visa American Cup. She had some troubles on the uneven bars and balance beam but put it together to win floor. She finished first on beam at the USA-Belgium Dual Meet. After some injuries she came back for the 2002 US National Championships. She finished second once again and won the beam. Tabitha was able to win the 2003 American Classic before sitting out most of the season due to injuries. Prior to the American Classic, she competed at the National Podium Meet. She finished fourth all-around. She also competed at the Pacific Challenge. Tabitha placed fourth all-around.

In 2004 Tabitha came back more determined then ever. She won a bronze medal in the all-around at the International Friendship Camp. She finished seventh all around at nationals and also finished in the top ten on three of the other events. Next on her agenda was the Olympic Trials. Tabitha had an awesome performance and placed fourth all around. She qualified to the Olympic Selection Camp. Just days after the Olympic Trials Tabitha hurt her achilles and had to drop out of the selection process.

In the fall of 2004 she started school at Stanford. Tabitha's first major college meet was at the Pac-10 Championships. She placed second on bars with a 9.9. The winner, Tasha Schwikert, had a perfect 10. A few weeks later she competed in the all around for the first time since her injury and qualified as an individual to the NCAA Championships. She came home with a bronze medal on the floor. Tabitha also earned First Team All-American honors in the all-around, bars, beam and floor exercise.

Tabitha had an excellent sophomore season. She won three All-American honors in the all-around, bars and floor. She finished third on floor at the NCAA Championships. Tabitha won the Pac-10 Championship all-around title. She also won beam. She was named to the All Pac-10 Team on every event. During her junior season in 2007, she won four All-American honors in the all-around, bars, beam and floor. She missed the first half of the season because of an injury. She was an All-Pac-10 selection. She won the NCAA Regional Championships for the third time. As a senior, she won three more All-American honors in the all-around, bars and beam. She ended with a total of fourteen. She was a Honda Award Finalist. She finished second in the all-around at Regionals. She was named West Regional Gymnast of the Year. She was named Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year. Tabitha was the first Stanford gymnast to receive this honor. She won the all-around at the Pac-10 Championships.