Objective: To explore the effect of sustained cognition on shooting performance of shooters.Methods: Using the ecological momentary assessment method, this paper investigated the dynamicrelationship between the continuous cognitive activation of stressors and shooting performance beforeand during competition. Results: The results showed that the athletes’ evaluation of events was mostlyabout competition-related anxiety. Results of dynamic structural equation model showed that boththe autoregressive effect of perseverative cognition and the cross-lag effect of perseverative cognitionand shooting performance were significant. Controllability and emotional intensity play a moderatingrole in the influence of perseverative cognition on shooting performance. Conclusion: The continuouscognition of stressors would aggravate the athletes’ subsequent perseverative cognition and reduce theirshooting performance. Low controllability and high emotional intensity can aggravate the damagingeffect of perseverative cognition on shooting performance. This study provides a useful reference forunderstanding competition anxiety.