Kwan, KedricKing, AndrewHelms, Eric R2026-05-222026-05-222026-03-27Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, ISSN: 0270-1367 (Print); 2168-3824 (Online), Taylor and Francis Group, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2026.26357230270-13672168-3824http://hdl.handle.net/10292/21195Rapid weight loss is common in weight category sports, and large magnitudes of it can affect performance. This study explored relationships between changes in the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS) items and the magnitude of rapid weight loss in elite powerlifters competing at the World Championships. A total of 53 powerlifters (27 males, 26 females) who competed in either the 2019 or 2022 International Powerlifting Federation World Championships participated. At 7, 2, and 0 days out from competition, the participants completed the SRSS and recorded their body mass. Cumulative link mixed models were used to explore the relationship between SRSS score and proximity to competition, competitive caliber (good lift points [GLP]), sex, and magnitude of relative weight change. On average, the participants lost -2.5% (1.83 kg) of body mass from day 7 to day 0. The results suggest that (a) elite powerlifters can decrease subjective stress and promote recovery leading into competition, (b) powerlifters with higher GLP at competition are more likely to report better recovery and negative emotional state scores, (c) higher relative magnitude of weight loss is associated with worse subjective stress and recovery scores, and (d) female powerlifters experience worse negative emotional state responses with higher relative weight loss. These findings highlight that the magnitude of rapid weight loss can affect subjective stress and recovery and provide data to inform future hypothesis testing.© 2026 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Athlete monitoringmental performancepowerliftingworld class powerlifters4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science42 Health SciencesWomen's HealthBehavioral and Social ScienceNutritionMental Health1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy1701 PsychologySport Sciences3901 Curriculum and pedagogy4207 Sports science and exercise5201 Applied and developmental psychologyJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/02701367.2026.2635723