Yang Yilin was born on August 26, 1992 in Huada, Guangzhou, Guandong. Yang was a member of the gold medal winning Chinese gymnastics team at the 2008 Summer Olymics. Yang also won a bronze medal in the all-around and uneven bars events. Yang's age was under heavy controversy in 2008 but the IOC found no proof that Yang was underage when she competed.