Morning cortisol spikes signal readiness for competition
When an elite athlete steps out of bed on a competition morning, their body does more than just open its eyes — it launches a hormonal cascade that readies the organism for the challenges ahead.
A recent investigation conducted at the International University of La Rioja measured this phenomenon, known as the Cortisol Awakening Response, in 190 top‑level competitors across seven disciplines, ranging from swimming to soccer.
The data revealed that on game days the athletes’ cortisol levels jumped by roughly 82 percent, a stark contrast to the 24.7 percent rise observed on rest days, underscoring the body’s anticipatory tuning.
Manuel Jiménez, a researcher at the university, notes that this surge appears to be rooted in evolution, a mechanism that once helped our ancestors mobilize energy for survival tasks.
Beyond the physiological curiosity, the findings have practical implications. Variability in the response reaches nearly 47 percent among athletes, suggesting that some may be under‑activated while others experience excessive stress, both of which can affect performance and increase injury risk, especially in high‑impact sports like soccer.
Coaches and sports scientists are now eyeing the cortisol awakening response as a non‑invasive diagnostic tool. By monitoring these hormonal markers, they hope to fine‑tune training loads, reduce stress‑related injuries, and ultimately keep athletes at their peak.