<![CDATA[Competitive athletes perform under evaluative pressure, and competitive anxiety threatens sport performance. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly adopted in applied sport psychology, yet controlled evidence on their effects on performance and anxiety remains fragmented. This review synthesised controlled trials examining whether structured multi-session MBIs improve performance and reduce competitive anxiety in competitive athletes, and which programme characteristics accompany favourable outcomes. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 statement and a PICOS framework. Scopus was searched with a Boolean string combining mindfulness, athlete or sport, and performance or competitive anxiety terms, limited to English-language open-access journal articles published between 2016 and 2025, yielding 521 records. Eligible studies were randomised or non-randomised controlled trials of multi-session MBIs reporting objective or observer-rated sport performance or competitive or sport anxiety; single-session, uncontrolled, and non-athlete studies were excluded. Seventeen studies met the criteria. Most reported performance gains, particularly in precision and endurance tasks such as free throws, shooting, and rowing, whereas anxiety effects were less consistent and sometimes matched by psychological skills training. Sport-specific programmes lasting six to eight weeks appeared most promising. The findings support MBIs as a complementary performance tool, while larger preregistered trials with follow-up and objective outcomes are needed.]]>
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