According to Nike Designer Christian Tresser, the Air Max 97 was inspired by the ripples formed by drops of water falling into a pond. The elemental upper rests on visible air cushioning technology. The Air Max 97 was the first shoe to achieve a full-length visible air cushion, which paved the way for future innovations in sneaker design. 

Another source of inspiration for the Air Max 97's wave-like design was the high-speed Japanese bullet train. With this in mind, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Nike released the Olympic Rings Air Max 97 pack. Each sneaker is a monochrome iteration of the classic Air Max 97 silhouette after the colors of the Olympic rings. Gold Swooshes and accents reference the gold medals athletes aspire towards.

• Air Max 97 'Olympic Rings Pack' in black, originally released in 2020.
• Black upper with white midsole and black outsole.
• Tongue tab has stripes in the colors of the Olympic rings.
• Heel tab has 'air max' spelled out in gold.
• Includes brass Nike Swoosh logo pin.
• Style number: CI3708
• Color code: 001
• This item is final sale and not eligible for return.