The Cambridge English Dictionary defines “sleep” as “the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious.” This period allows for the body and the mind to refuel, just as a car needs gas to refuel. Sleep and nutrition are perhaps the two most important investments one can make in their body. One can train endless hours perfecting their sport, but without the fuel, their body will fail to function at its best.

Senior athlete Leon Zheng describes the value of sleep and nutrition as a fencer. He acknowledges that it is quite difficult to get a consistent amount of sleep when you have a busy schedule. The compounding time commitments—such as team training, school practices, and the academic workload at PDS—make 8–10 hours of sleep difficult. But Zheng shares his key to peak performance: “I try my best to get at least 6–7 hours of sleep every night because I feel like with that amount my body is able to perform at the level I need it to perform during competition.” He also tends to avoid foods and drinks with high sugar content and have a balance with the amount of food he eats—not too much and not too little. Consistency is key for athletes, and having a set sleep schedule conditions the body for athletic performance. 

Senior Luke Nolte, a cross-country athlete, explains what will happen if an athlete does not sleep enough. “Not letting your body get the amount of rest you need,” he said, “especially before a meet, is a night and day difference for how your body will function. Your body will not feel ready, your muscles will feel weak, and you will have the worst performance.” That is why he thinks that you should go to bed two hours before your usual time. 

Without proper sleep, the body cannot function; without proper nutrition, the body cannot function. Investing in these two is key to an athlete’s success.