The “Deflategate” scandal isn’t the only factor that may contribute to the outcome of this Sunday’s Super Bowl. New research suggests that the deciding factor of America’s biggest game could be how the timing of the game aligns with the internal biological clocks of the players.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. analyzed the circadian phenotypes — including wake-sleep patterns and other factors — of more than 120 athletes, determining if they were classified as early, intermediate, or late. Then they completed fitness tests at six different times of day.
They found that the performance of competition-level athletes varies over the course of the day by as much as 26 percent,
Fox News reports.
People who would naturally prefer to sleep in will give their best performances hours later in the day than early birds will.
“If a one percent difference in performance can make the difference between first place and fourth place in a 100-meter race and actually win you the gold medal at the Olympics, then imagine what a 26 percent difference in your performance could give you," said lead researcher Roland Brandstaetter, M.D. "Our research takes us away from the idea of 'time of day of the race' and directs us more to internal biological time."
Dr. Brandstaetter said athletes and coaches should make note of the findings and adjust their schedules accordingly.
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