Two players, four walls, one ball hurtling back at you at over 200 km/h. In 2028, squash will make its Olympic debut on a Hollywood backlot. In the German-speaking world, however, squash remains largely overlooked.
Squash still carries the image of a niche indoor sport from the nineties. Many encounter it only in a side room of a gym. Every rally forces you into quick steps, deep lunges, and split-second decisions under pressure. Between points, there’s barely time to catch your breath. The walls hand back every mistake immediately.
⚡
Quick Sprint
▸Forbes named squash the world’s healthiest sport in 2003, with top marks for muscular endurance and calorie burn.
▸Up to 900 calories an hour: average heart rate hovers around 171 bpm, peaking at 199.
▸Squash debuts at the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, played on a Universal Studios backlot.
▸Two 16-court fields will compete-men and women-over ten days from July 15 to 24.
▸In DACH, the sport remains underrated, despite courts in nearly every major city.
171 beats per minute: How your pulse performs on court
A squash court is 9.75 metres long and 6.4 metres wide. The confined space is the essence of the game: on this surface you sprint, brake and pivot in every rally without long pauses. Studies of competitive load show an average heart rate of around 171 beats per minute, peaking between 190 and 199. Even during running you rarely reach this zone except in hard intervals. On court, your pulse stays in this range for large parts of the match.
Calorie burn is equally high. Estimates range from 500 to 700 calories per hour depending on pace; in intense play at 75 kilograms body weight it can climb to 900. Every rally blends endurance with explosive lunges while your core absorbs rapid pivots. The ball travels faster than you can react. The time pressure is what makes it thrilling: your entire body must respond to every shot.
171
Average heart rate (bpm), peaks to 199
900
Calories per hour in intense play
22.5
Forbes score, 1st place out of 10 sports
2028
First Olympic squash tournament
Forbes 2003: Why squash took the top spot
In 2003, Forbes ranked ten sports across six criteria: endurance, strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, injury risk and energy expenditure. Squash scored 22.5 points and led the field. Peak marks came in muscular endurance and calorie burn; cardiovascular endurance was only slightly lower. Tennis, rowing and climbing followed.
Squash drives heart rates to the limit: intense and lightning-fast.
That ranking is more than twenty years old. The load inside the court has not changed: the ball stays in play, the distances are short and direction changes arrive without warning. After fifteen minutes your shirt is plastered to your back and your legs feel heavy. The next ball is already on its way.
Olympics 2028: The Squash Court Takes Center Stage on Universal’s Backlot
After decades of bids, squash will finally make its Olympic debut in 2028. The sport joins five other new disciplines in Los Angeles-Flag Football, Cricket, Lacrosse, and Baseball/Softball-on the program. Matches will be played at a site rich in symbolism: Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios lot, the iconic set from Back to the Future. A glass court in the heart of Hollywood will put every angle of play on full display, revealing the explosive athleticism of a sport that’s often hard to appreciate in the tight confines of a traditional squash court.
For squash, this is the biggest stage it’s ever had. The tournament promises global visibility and could spark a surge of new talent. Men and women will compete in separate 16-player draws from 15–24 July 2028. Whether the event propels squash out of its niche in Germany remains to be seen-but the platform has never been bigger.
Your First Steps
Almost every major city has a squash court-often tucked inside a gym or a dedicated squash center. You can usually rent a racket and ball on site. A trial lesson typically costs less than a movie ticket. Start with technique before you crank up the pace. If you blast every ball from the first swing, you’ll burn out in five minutes and miss the subtleties of angles and timing.
Cool-down
Click on a question to reveal the answer.
How intense is squash really?
Very. Your heart rate averages around 171 beats per minute, putting you in the zone you’d only hit during hard running intervals. In intense play, you can burn up to 900 calories an hour. Squash is more sprint series than casual round.
Is squash dangerous for beginners?
The risk of injury is real but manageable. Rapid direction changes stress knees and ankles, so warming up and wearing protective goggles are standard. Starting slowly and prioritising technique over speed keeps the risk low.
Where can I play squash in Germany?
In almost every major city. Many gyms have courts, and dedicated squash centres and clubs operate under the German Squash Federation. Hourly court rental is common, and you can usually rent equipment on-site.
Why is squash only coming to the Olympics in 2028?
Squash has applied multiple times and been overlooked each time, including for the 2016 and 2020 Games. Los Angeles is prioritising sports with US appeal and a compact, TV-friendly format. The glass court finally makes the game visible, and that tipped the scales.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Turnstile. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Hubspot Embedded Content. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from HubSpot. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Hubspot Meetings. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
Quick Sprint
