Athlete's hurt at the finish, and not up to prepare a vault (10)

'a vault' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'athlete's hurt at the finish and not up to prepare' is the wordplay.
'at the finish' indicates one should take the final letters.
'and not' becomes 'nor' ('nor' means 'and also not').
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'to prepare' becomes 'groom' (synonyms).
The last letters of 'athletes hurt' are 'st'.
'nor' back-to-front is 'ron'.
'st'+'ron'+'groom'='STRONGROOM'

Can you help me to learn more?