This study explores the impact of state and trait anxiety on perceived stress in athletes in high-risk sports, focusing on the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal and the moderating effect of sports psychological skills. Data were collected from athletes in sports like Boxing, Sanda, Mixed Martial Arts, Freestyle Skiing, and Ski Jumping. The analysis, conducted using the PROCESS macro revealed that both state and trait anxiety significantly predict perceived stress (β = 0.331, p