Mina Emami - Department of sport management, Faculty of physical education and Sport Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
MehrAli Hemmatinezhadtouli - Department of sport management, Faculty of physical education and Sport Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Alireza Nikouei - Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Shahram Shafiee - Department of sport management, Faculty of physical education and Sport Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

This study explores the intersection of virtual and physical sports through the phenomenological lens of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, aiming to understand how these realms alter athletes' lived-body experiences. Utilizing a qualitative, analytical-interpretive methodology, the research draws on a range of academic sources to offer a comprehensive analysis. The findings reveal that the convergence of virtual and physical sports creates a novel form of embodied experience, challenging traditional notions of body schema. Virtual sports, facilitated by advanced technologies like VR, integrate with athletes' body schema, blurring the boundaries between physical and virtual environments. This integration affects athletes' perceptions of their bodies and capabilities, enhancing their performance and identity in both contexts. The study concludes that Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological approach provides valuable insights into how virtual sports reshape athletes' experiences, suggesting a more fluid and interconnected understanding of embodiment. This perspective is crucial for developing ethical guidelines and practical applications in sports, addressing the implications of virtual technologies on athletic performance and identity.

Digital body, Lived experience, Merleau-Ponty, Sports, Virtual Reality