Olympic Team Virtual Reality Results in Gold Medal
Season 1; Episode 2
In this segment, Knoxlabs highlights the official use of virtual reality by Team USA. The result? A gold medal. To read more, toggle down.
Fitness & VR is a Knoxlabs Online Original Series, writing on the technological nexus between virtual reality and health. Follow Knoxlabs to stay informed on recent developments and topics in virtual reality fitness.
When Mikaela Shiffrin snatched the gold medal in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games on behalf of the Stars & Stripes, professionals in the athletic field wondered about her practice routine that led to her story to glory. Turns out, the National Team incorporated Virtual Reality (VR) training systems through a partnership with a Northern California tech company as a part of its official Olympic development program.
The partnership with VR tech startup STRIVR was geared towards athletes’ mental and physical awareness and development, and in-game cognitive decision-making through digitally replicated course visuals. In other words, the U.S. Olympic team took a chance on Virtual Reality to envision and experience an in-game scenario through digital simulation — and that’s exactly what STRIVR supplied.
The tech startup STRIVR strategically created a digital replica of the strenuous ski course — Jeongseon Alpine Center. At a vertical measurement of 2,707 ft. (825 meters), altitude of 4,495 ft. (1,370 meters), the course encompasses a downhill ski of nearly 1.5 miles.
VR tech companies, such as STRIVR, not only provide an optical analysis of the location, but also intense training of steep ski course Jeongseon Alpine Center at nearly 4,500 feet above elevation.
Often times, visualization and action are important factors to measure preparation. Understanding the true scope of difficulties, digital simulation establishes a low-stakes training system that assembles an authentic elaboration on any given data.
Given the digital mimicry of real-life scenarios, virtual programs familiarize and prepare athletes in unprecedented style. It showcases revolutionary progress in athletic training that secures a position between technological advancement and diversifying exercise routines. And as athletes internationally continue to apply the newest training trends for peak performance, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics marked only the beginning of VR training programs as an official factor for elite preparation.
As the Team USA takes advantage of Virtual Reality, more and more athletes trust the beneficial nexus between technology and athletic performance. Click Here to learn about a virtual reality “space race” and its place in virtual fitness.
Season 1 Episodes
Season 1; Episode 4 — Virtual Reality Helps Mental Health Disorders
Season 1; Episode 3 — A Virtual Cold War
Season 1; Episode 2 — U.S. Olympic Team Virtual Reality
Season 1; Episode 1 — Virtual Reality: Reshaping Exercise
Knoxlabs incorporates international stories as part of Knoxlabs research and editorial contribution to Virtual Reality.
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