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 first gained prominence in 1983 while representing East Germany, taking home a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships. She later married fellow athlete Volker Mai and went on to win another bronze medal as Yvonne Mai at the 1989 World Indoor Championships.