Even half a world away from home, USA setter Micah Christenson still carries his family with him — not in the stands, but on the court, etched into what he wears.
Before every match in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, Christenson laces up his Nike HyperSet 2s, covered in colorful scribbles and messages from his children.
To others, they may look like simple doodles, but for Christenson, they are constant reminders that his family is with him every time he steps onto the court.
“It’s great. I mean, it brings a smile to my face all the time,” said the 32-year-old playmaker after leading Team USA to a 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15 victory over Slovenia in the Round of 16 on Monday night.
His eldest son, 7-year-old Zeke, wrote “Go Dad” and drew a cross on his right shoe. Meanwhile, his 4-year-old daughter Quinn and 2-year-old son Finley filled the left shoe with their vibrant scribbles.
Christenson shared that his wife, Brooke, helped the kids put the designs together, making the gesture even more special.
The two-time Olympic bronze medalist said that seeing the shoes in the middle of an intense match brings him calm, reminding him of what truly matters beyond the game. Even amid the heat of competition, those small drawings anchor him, steady his emotions, and sharpen his focus.
“I’m lacing them up, looking down in the middle of a block, and just seeing my family’s messages — whether it’s a little ‘Go Dad,’ a cross to remember our faith, or scribbles that capture my kids’ personalities — a little piece of my family is with me there,” Christenson said.
“I can’t forget my amazing wife, who organized this and helped them. It reminds me of my three children and my wife,” he added.
More than a source of focus, the customized shoes are a reminder of the love waiting for him at home, no matter how far the game takes him.
“It puts a lot of things into perspective when I’m out there battling. Even if I take things too seriously, I can look down and realize I’ve got so much love and support waiting for me — whether I play great and win or don’t play great and lose,” he said.
“That love is always there.”
#WATCH: Micah Christenson explains why his shoes has his kids’ drawings on them—during serious moments, he looks at them as a reminder that win or lose, love is always waiting 🇺🇸🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/NZOmUDx0ji
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#MWCH2025 pic.twitter.com/19EpYj0jzt
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 22, 2025
