Sleep and Athletic Performance: Impacts on Physical Performance, Mental Performance, Injury Risk and Recovery, and Mental Health

Previous research has characterised the sleep of elite athletes and has attempted to identify factors associated with athletic performance, cognition, health and mental well-being. Sleep is considered a fundamental component to performance optimization among elite athletes. Yet, sleep has only recently been embraced by sport organizations as an important part of the training and recovery process. Not only does sleep play a crucial role in physical and cognitive performance, it is also an important factor in reducing the risk of injury. Yet, there are still many gaps in the literature regarding how sleep can be optimized and what the mechanisms are that link sleep and circadian rhythms to performance and recovery. This article aims to highlight the prevalence of poor sleep, describe its impacts, and address the issue of sport culture surrounding healthy sleep.