Why are carbohydrates necessary in sports?

Why are carbohydrates necessary in sports?

No matter the sport, our bodies need "fuel" to power us through training and competition.
The body uses both fats and carbohydrates for this purpose. Within our muscle cells, both fats and carbohydrates are converted into energy (ATP). The consumption of fats and carbohydrates constantly shifts based on the level of exertion, but they always work together. For instance, at rest, our body is powered by approximately 60% fat. The higher the activity level, the more carbohydrates the body utilizes.

Glycogen (a form of carbohydrate) requires about 7% less oxygen to extract energy (ATP) compared to fatty acids, which we also store in ample amounts. There's a clear connection between low glycogen reserves and muscle fatigue because we can generate less energy as these reserves deplete. Thus, carbohydrates are the fuel with which we perform best, but unfortunately, our body can store only around 500g.

Due to this storage limitation, optimal physical performance requires us to consume carbohydrates both before and during activity.