Episode Timeline
View all episodesUSA Today’s run, before and after May 16, 2017
2:58Now PlayingCan you keep up with one of the world's fastest sports in VR?
29.5K views
May 16, 2017
29,531
124
7
0.44%
Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.
Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.
Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line
2:58Now PlayingAlso, pilot a jet with a stunt flying troupe and behold the beauty of the Milky Way
The world's best squash players tear it up in a glass court tournament in the iconic Grand Central Station in NYC. Featured athletes include Nicol David, who holds the record for being ranked #1 in the world longer than any other player and Amanda Sobhy, the highest-ranked American-born player ever in professional squash.
The door shuts and you find yourself in a glass box with your opponent. There’s a ball flying every which way at speeds topping 100 mph. To some, this may sound like the beginning of a nightmare. To 10-time Swiss national squash champion Nicolas Mueller, it's bliss.
Nicolas was among the world’s best squash players who competed in New York City’s iconic Grand Central Station at the J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions earlier this year. Unlike in tennis, squash players can hit the ball off any wall, in any direction. It's a true 360-degree sport. In the video, VRtually There brings you court-side for the tournament to feel the intensity of the sport in VR.
Often, players only have only milliseconds to make tough judgement calls. They must be physically strong enough to hit the ball and aerobically fit enough to race around the court. It’s a mentally and physically grueling game that requires players to always think two or three shots ahead. The focus and stamina required has its rewards. Nicolas fell in love with how the sport forces him to confront his strengths and weaknesses.
“You get to know yourself when you’re on the squash court,” he says.
Sharing the same space with opponents adds a unique beauty to how the game is played. There are two competitors breathing down each other’s necks, but they also most move to allow their opponent access to the ball. In a sense, these matches resemble a fast-pasted, dynamic dance.
Step into the ballroom in the video above.
From the USA TODAY NETWORK and YouTube, it’s VRtually There, bringing you cool VR experiences each week.
Take a breath. Take it in. And don’t forget to look around!
Subscribe NOW to VRtually There and never miss an episode!
DOWNLOAD our apps
Sentinel Indexing in Progress
Metadata and chapters are available. Claim extraction for this episode is pending.
All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.
