Objective <p>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively synthesize existing evidence regarding the overall correlation between resilience and athletic performance and explore potential moderating variables.</p> Methods <p>Observational studies of the association between resilience and athletic performance were identified using electronic databases and manual searches. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies, developed by the National Institutes of Health. Pearson correlation coefficients (<i>r</i>) were used as effect sizes for the pooled results. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number: CRD42024590706).</p> Results <p>Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 15 independent samples, 27 effect sizes, and 4654 participants. The main effect test indicated a significant positive correlation between resilience and athletic performance (<i>r</i> = 0.437, <i>z</i> = 6.862, 95% <i>CI</i> = 0.322 to 0.538). The moderating effect test indicated that the resilience measurement used significantly moderated the association between resilience and athletic performance (<i>Q</i>_<i>B</i> = 54.716, <i>df</i> = 1, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), whereas no significant moderating effects were observed for the remaining variables.</p> Conclusions <p>The findings of the review provide evidence-based support for the positive development and appropriate guidance of resilience in athletes, thereby effectively enhancing their physical and mental health and athletic performance.</p>