Doctors and healthcare specialists working with Olympic athletes and other professional sportsmen and women all agree – sleep is absolutely vital if they’re to perform at their peak. The connection between how well-rested an athlete is and their physical and cognitive performance is undisputed. When we’re asleep our bodies repair muscle tissue, top up stamina levels and help us regain general alertness. But do athletes’ sleep schedules differ from sport to sport or depend on varying physical demands? Sleep routines deliver results Triathletes are considered to be one of the toughest groups of sportsmen and women on the planet. Within this group there was also a significant minority who strongly believed in the benefits of power napping particularly during intensive training or competition weeks.