Nike Celebrates Olympic Gold Medalist Cheung Ka Long With Air Max 97
With gold details inspired by his Olympic gold medals.
Olympic fencer Cheung Ka Long inspires Nike Hong Kong’s latest Air Max 97, with the sleek sneaker donning a fall-ready color story. The model’s olive green hues are borrowed from the mix of city and mountains native to Ka Long’s hometown of Hong Kong. (Coincidentally, the shade also happens to be his favorite color.)
Ripstop panelling calls out to the strong and resilient attitude required in competitive fencing, while subtle gold details call out to Ka Long’s gold medal moments. The model’s transparent outsole reveals a map topography of Hong Kong’s tallest peak Tai Mo Shan, as well as “Don’t Lose Your Way,” Ka Long’s motto that he writes on every one of his competition-worn shoes. Ⓥ16-17-21-22 lands on the shoe’s insoles, representing all of the years in which he’s brought home gold in Men’s Foil.
A coordinating t-shirt will release alongside the Air Max 97 on October 17 for $1,299 and $349 HKD, respectively (approximately $165 and $45 USD).
In other sneaker-related news, Jordan Brand announces Tonia Jones as the new head of women’s.
