The main objective of the study is to determine differences between male and female gymnasts in 4 mechanical variables during the qualification C.1 Aarhus (Denmark) 2006 in Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. On a sample of 449 gymnasts (44 MAG vault and 34 WAG vault) only 13 vaults are performed the same by men and women. During World Championship Qualification in Debrecen 2002 and Aarhus 2006 we found that only 14 men and women together performed first phases of the vaults the same. By analyzing the WCQ 2002 and WCQ 2006 only 20 male gymnasts executed second flight phases of the vaults the same. The results in 4 mechanical variables acquired from the vault elements performed by both male and female gymnasts are extremely high. Vault is the most studied biomechanical gymnastics apparatus because it is the only one during which gymnasts make only one skill (Sands et. al., 2003).

The aim of the research was to examine the effects of isokinetic training on knee stabilizer muscles strength, and whether this increases the efficiency of performing basic gymnastic vaults. A total of 60 respondents, students of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (average age 19.7±1.5 years, weight 75.3±2.9 kg, height 179.8±6.7 cm) were included. The subjects were divided into two groups, experimental (EG) (n=30) and control (CG) (n=30). As part of the 12-week program, the experimental group (EG) in addition to exercises within the regular classes at the university had an additional concentric isokinetic training 3 times a week on the Biodex System 3 dynamometer, while the control group (CG) only had exercises within the regular classes at the university. The results indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between EG and CG, both in increasing the knee stabilizer muscles strength and in the performance of gymnastic vaults in favor of EG. It can be concluded that the additional isokinetic training resulted in a greater increase in strength, but also a better performance of gymnastic vaults. The results of the research can be used as guidelines for planning and programming isokinetic strength training of knee stabilizer muscles, which will contribute to a better performance of gymnastic vaults. Since there is a small amount of research on the topic of this work, this study represents a good foundation and basis for some future research on the effects of isokinetic training in sports gymnastics.