During the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Hong Kong's very own Cheung Ka Long became the city's first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing and the second to become an Olympic champion. HK-ers around the globe were screaming at the top of their lungs in support of the 25-year-old athlete, and to celebrate this magnificent achievement, the Oregon sportswear giant has unveiled the Nike Air Max 97 "Cheung Ka Long."
Building on top of the Christian Tresser classic, this Air Max 97 is painted in a gold hue to represent Cheung's Olympic gold medal, and is accented with olive green tones as a nod to his favorite color. Crafted from a combination of leather and ripstop, the tongue is done up in Velcro and comes with four badges, including two Swoosh variations, one fencing version, and another with the number "852" which is Hong Kong's country code. Elsewhere, the Air midsole is printed with the Ka Long's personal motto, "Don't Lose Your Way," and the rubber outsole underneath features a topographical map of HK's tallest peak, Tai Mo Shan.
The Nike Air Max 97 Cheung Ka Long is set to release during Holiday 2022 or Spring 2023. Expected to be available in men's sizes with a retail price of $185, these should drop at Nike, the SNKRS app, and select online and in-store retailers worldwide. Make sure you follow Sole Retriever on Twitter and download ourMobile App for your best chance to cop!
Nike Air Max 97 "Cheung Ka Long"
Images via Nike
