sports biomechanics, gymnastics, vault, vaulting table, sports technique, kinematic analysis

The purpose of the study was to identify and analyse kinematic variables associated with successful performance of women´s handspring vaults and to determine whether the new vaulting table led to changes in handspring vaulting technique. Participants were five top level female gymnasts which participated in Grand Prix Ostrava 2010. For the 3D spatial movement analysis were used two digital camcorders with frame rate 50 frames/s. The data was digitized by the SIMI MOTION software. The results of study suggest that the current vaulting technique requires on high horizontal velocity during hurdle on the board and dynamic take off from the board, a short table contact time, take off from the table finished before reaching the handstand position with a high vertical velocity.