Under her maiden name of Yvonne Grabner, she first came to prominence in 1983 competing for East Germany, winning a bronze medal at the 1983 European Junior Championships. Later, she married fellow East German athlete, Volker Mai. While competing as Yvonne Mai, she won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Indoor Championships.
Yvonne Grabner's athletic career began to take off in 1983 when she competed for East Germany, earning a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships. Her marriage to fellow athlete Volker Mai followed, and she went on to win another bronze medal as Yvonne Mai at the 1989 World Indoor Championships.