The purpose was to describe the intensity and directional interpretation of anxiety and self-confidence in gymnasts of different ages, gender and competitive level in a major competition and analyze their differences in two meeting of very different importance in minor-level gymnasts. Were evaluated eight elite men gymnasts (G1; International level) and 8 national level female gymnasts (G2; National level). We administered a shortened version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) in three competitions, among which two were most important in the season for each group (G1 and G2a) and the minor third for the group minor-level (G2b). The G1 have higher levels of self-confidence that G2. Moreover their interpretation of symptoms of anxiety as facilitators for their competitive performance was very high. The G1 had interpretations of the cognitive symptoms of anxiety higher than G2. No significant differences between intensity and directional interpretation of anxiety and self-confidence in G2 when evaluated in two competitions of different importance.
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