Introduction. - This study was aimed at assessing changes in urinary free cortisol concentrations due to sport practising.Methods. - Urinary samples were taken from 103 national level athletes practising sports such as golf, shooting, weightlifting, soccer, rugby, tennis, cross, marathon, 1 hour after the end of the sporting event.Results. - Urinary free cortisol concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in athletes practising either weightlifting, soccer, rugby, tennis or cross than in athletes practising either golf, shooting, or marathon.Conclusion. - As the increase in blood cortisol, the increase in urinary cortisol would be related to the exercise duration and intensity. However, the lower concentration in urinary cortisol after a long distance racing (marathon) might result from either a decrease in the liver clearance and/or depletion of the adrenal medulla content.Introduction. - L'objectif de cette etude est d'etudier les repercussions de differentes pratiques sportives sur les concentrations urinaires de cortisol.Methodes. - Les urines de 103 athletes de niveau national pratiquant des sports varies (golf, tir, halterophilie, football, rugby, tennis, cross, marathon) ont ete prelevees a la suite de competitions et analysees pour le dosage du cortisol libre urinaire.Resultats. - Il est apparu que les cortisoluries obtenues apres des competitions de football, rugby, tennis et cross sont significativement superieures a celles obtenues apres des competitions de golf, tir et marathon.Conclusion. - Les concentrations de cortisol urinaire apparaissent etre liees, comme celles du cortisol sanguin, a l'intensite et a la duree de l'exercice effectue. Cependant, la prolongation d'un exercice aerobie intense (marathon) se traduit par une baisse de la cortisolurie, pouvant etre interpretee par une baisse de la clairance hepatique et/ou un epuisement surrenalien.