Take a Closer Look at Nike Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Long-Inspired Air Max 97
Celebrating 852’s Olympic gold medalist in fencing.
Nike Hong Kong has just offered up a closer look at a new Quick Strike Air Max 97 inspired by Olympic fencer Cheung Ka Long.
Bringing in personal elements from the athlete, the uppers see a gradient tone inspired by the mix of city and mountains from Ka Long’s hometown of Hong Kong, and his favorite color olive green. The rest of the shoe sees small details and hidden meanings like the ripstop panels that signify the strong and resilient attitude required in competitive fencing, the golden Swoosh that represents Ka Long’s gold medal accomplishments, a transparent outsole with the map topography of Hong Kong’s tallest peak Tai Mo Shan, and Ka Long’s motto that he writes on every one of his competition-worn shoes, “Don’t Lose Your Way.”
As a finishing touch, the insoles bear Ⓥ16-17-21-22 representing all of the years in which he’s brought home gold in Men’s Foil.
2016: Asian Championship Men’s Individual Foil Gold Medal
2017: World Junior Championship Men’s Foil Gold Medal
2021: Tokyo Olympics Men’s Individual Foil Gold Medal
2022 January: FIE Fencing World Cup Paris Gold Medal
Launching with the shoe is a commemorative T-shirt that echoes the same elements that Cheung Ka Long has put into his Air Max 97. Look for both products on October 17 for a retail price of $1,299 and $349 HKD, respectively (approximately $165 and $45 USD).
In other footwear news, “Anthracite” covers this Nike Air Max TW.
