Facts about Squash
- 07
Olympic recognition came to squash in 2016 when it was included as a medal sport at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, marking its first appearance in any Olympic competition.
- 06
Squash players require exceptional aerobic capacity, with elite competitors needing VO2 max levels of 55-65 milliliters per kilogram of body weight, comparable to Olympic marathoners.
- 05
A squash racket head can withstand impacts exceeding 1,000 pounds of force per square inch due to modern composite materials like graphite and aramid fiber.
- 04
In 2019, Egyptian players won 5 of the top 10 positions in the Professional Squash Association world rankings, establishing Egypt as the dominant squash nation.
- 03
Invented in 1830s England, squash evolved from the outdoor sport of racquets when players began using softer, slower balls that would not damage indoor gymnasium walls.
- 02
The squash court at Harvard University, built in 1884, is recognized as the oldest existing purpose-built squash facility in the world.
- 01
Professional squash balls travel at speeds exceeding 170 miles per hour when hit by elite players like Mohamed El Shorbagy.