Our planet rotates to create a day-night cycle, and we have a body clock that follows that cycle. This clock shapes biology and behavior, including sports performance (3). As covered in a recent review, most individuals rate their athletic prowess as best in the late afternoon or early evening, and this is supported by evidence that sports performance shows a diurnal rhythm caused in part by a body clock. The evidence suggests that many aspects of exercise performance show higher values later in the day, including 1) peak force of muscles; 2) maximal aerobic power; 3) performance in broad and vertical jumps; 4) times in running, swimming, and cycling; and 5) skills in soccer, tennis, and badminton (10).
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