In addition to that, it is important to evaluate if the power that was measured can be comparable to the power that gymnastics demands. The power was measured as the greatest power output in a 4 second interval against a fixed frictional resistance on the Monarch cycle ergometer. The nature of gymnastic power is a quick twitch punch. Specialized testing specifically for gymnastics would have to be done if we were to infer that a decrease in ability to pedal a bike at a fixed resistance implies a loss of quick twitch punching power. We should also remember that there was no significant impairment of muscular strength.
Strength is a definite element of gymnastics.
If muscular strength is not lost from this fasting and dehydration, a decreased body-weight with constant strength will yield an improved strength to weight ratio. This could be the advantage of drastic loss of body weight immediately preceding competition. There have been many additional studies done to measure the effect of rapid weight loss on strength. Each day strength and response time was measured. Response time was measured by how quickly the athlete responded to a stimulus to do a sit-up.