Tabitha Yim
Encyclopedia
Tabitha Yim is a Korean American
artistic gymnast. She is a former elite gymnast and current collegiate athlete for the Stanford Cardinal
gymnastics team.
. Away from gymnastics, Yim is an accomplished music
ian; she plays both flute
and organ
, and she has served as an organist
at the Crystal Cathedral
as early as age 14.
Touted as a junior international elite to watch for her expressive dance and strong balance beam performances, Yim quickly progressed as one of the major gymnasts in the 2001-2004 gymnastics squad. In her first major senior competition (where she was coached by Beth and Steve Rybacki of Gliders), 2001 U.S. Nationals, she placed second to 2000 Olympic Team member, Tasha Schwikert
. Her runner-up placement secured her a spot on the World Team, occurring in Ghent, Belgium, where she placed 7th in the AA competition, and 6th in the FX finals. A fall on the balance beam in preliminary team competition cost her a position in the balance beam final, where she was a legitimate contender for a medal. The United States gymnastics team won a bronze. Many had disregarded the team's chances even though every single member of the 2001 WAG World Team made an event final (Katie Heenan
went on to win bronze on the uneven bars). Yim's team bronze at World's 2001 would be the last major international medal she would receive as injuries would hamper and cut short her elite career.
Out for most of 2002 with a series of lower body injuries, Yim returned to 2002 Nationals with just two weeks of full training. Considered to be a legitimate contender for a world team position, Yim garnered a consecutive runner-up All-Around placement, second once again to Tasha Schikert. However, an injury post-nationals sidelined her from the 2002 World Event Finals team, where she could have contended on balance beam and floor exercise for medals.
Out for most of 2003 with a series of injuries again, Yim did not compete at 2003 Nationals and missed out on qualifying for the 2003 World team which went on to win the team gold. Yim did return in time for compete in the Olympic Year. At nationals, she placed a resurgent 7th in the AA, which would place her within striking distance of the Olympic Team. At the Olympic Trials, Yim continued in her bid to become an Olympic Team member with an electrifying 4th place AA performance, a performance many have argued would have placed her on the team. However, with a lengthy selection process, her selection will always be in doubt. Just prior to the closed door Olympic Selection Training Camp, Yim sustained a serious Achilles tendon
injury that put her Olympic aspirations on hold.
Yim attended Stanford University and competed for the Stanford women's gymnastics team from 2004-2008. Yim earned the most All-American honors in Stanford history, 14 All-Americans, and placed top 10 at NCAA championships all four years.
Yim is currently an assistant coach for the Stanford Women's Gymnastics team.
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
artistic gymnast. She is a former elite gymnast and current collegiate athlete for the Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
gymnastics team.
Biography
Tabitha Yim was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Away from gymnastics, Yim is an accomplished music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ian; she plays both flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, and she has served as an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
at the Crystal Cathedral
Crystal Cathedral
The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church building in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California, United States. It is the headquarters and principal place of worship for Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church founded in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller and affiliated with the...
as early as age 14.
Touted as a junior international elite to watch for her expressive dance and strong balance beam performances, Yim quickly progressed as one of the major gymnasts in the 2001-2004 gymnastics squad. In her first major senior competition (where she was coached by Beth and Steve Rybacki of Gliders), 2001 U.S. Nationals, she placed second to 2000 Olympic Team member, Tasha Schwikert
Tasha Schwikert
Tasha Schwikert Warren is an American gymnast who is a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, a World Gymnastics Championships team gold medalist, the 2001 and 2002 U.S...
. Her runner-up placement secured her a spot on the World Team, occurring in Ghent, Belgium, where she placed 7th in the AA competition, and 6th in the FX finals. A fall on the balance beam in preliminary team competition cost her a position in the balance beam final, where she was a legitimate contender for a medal. The United States gymnastics team won a bronze. Many had disregarded the team's chances even though every single member of the 2001 WAG World Team made an event final (Katie Heenan
Katie Heenan
Katherine "Katie" Elaine Heenan, , is a seven time national gymnast, and four time team NCAA champion, with the Georgia Gym Dogs.- Early life :...
went on to win bronze on the uneven bars). Yim's team bronze at World's 2001 would be the last major international medal she would receive as injuries would hamper and cut short her elite career.
Out for most of 2002 with a series of lower body injuries, Yim returned to 2002 Nationals with just two weeks of full training. Considered to be a legitimate contender for a world team position, Yim garnered a consecutive runner-up All-Around placement, second once again to Tasha Schikert. However, an injury post-nationals sidelined her from the 2002 World Event Finals team, where she could have contended on balance beam and floor exercise for medals.
Out for most of 2003 with a series of injuries again, Yim did not compete at 2003 Nationals and missed out on qualifying for the 2003 World team which went on to win the team gold. Yim did return in time for compete in the Olympic Year. At nationals, she placed a resurgent 7th in the AA, which would place her within striking distance of the Olympic Team. At the Olympic Trials, Yim continued in her bid to become an Olympic Team member with an electrifying 4th place AA performance, a performance many have argued would have placed her on the team. However, with a lengthy selection process, her selection will always be in doubt. Just prior to the closed door Olympic Selection Training Camp, Yim sustained a serious Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury that put her Olympic aspirations on hold.
Yim attended Stanford University and competed for the Stanford women's gymnastics team from 2004-2008. Yim earned the most All-American honors in Stanford history, 14 All-Americans, and placed top 10 at NCAA championships all four years.
Yim is currently an assistant coach for the Stanford Women's Gymnastics team.