ONE of the world’s biggest volleyball stars today in USA’s Micah Christenson almost shone in an entirely different game altogether.
The 32-year-old Hawaii native, who has brought 15 international medals to Team USA in his 13-year national team career, shared with SPIN.ph how he grew up bracing to become a basketball hotshot.
While that childhood dream of his is now just a thing of the past, Christenson couldn’t help but wonder what could’ve been despite the countless breakthroughs he’s had on the taraflex.
“A part of me definitely wonders what could have been with basketball. I think I've had more success playing basketball growing up than I did with volleyball in Hawaii and in high school,” the USA captain said.
“It's always a hypothetical, but it's fun to think about. I definitely miss basketball and I still love basketball.”
Back in his hometown of Honolulu, Christenson studied at the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama where he was even a three-time state champion — twice in basketball and once in volleyball.
Before a rather sudden shift to volleyball, one that was a matter of choosing what his heart really desired at the time, young Micah always saw himself playing hoops until his early adult years.
“I wanted to be a basketball player for a long time. People in Hawaii, when I was in high school, knew me for a basketball player more than I was a volleyball player,” he said.
“But basketball took up more of my life until I was probably like 17, maybe 16 years old. It was a big passion of mine," he said. “It still is.”
Redirection and reinvention
In an alternate universe, 6-foot-6 fan favorite Christenson might’ve just been the face of USA Basketball taking into account the high skill level he’s exhibited as a dynamic setter.
With all the success and how his life has been changed by volleyball over the years, he wouldn’t change anything about how he was redirected to a new path where he ultimately reinvented himself.
“I'm grateful that I I get to represent my country on the world stage playing volleyball. It's pretty incredible,” Christenson said.
“I wouldn't change anything, but it's always fun to think about what could have been.”
As a man of faith and a devout Christian, he always knew that he’d never be lost for as long as he sticks to the firm foundations of his relationship with God.
“it's my foundation. My faith is my foundation. It's the reason that I'm able to smile and be here and still have so much joy in what I do,” he shared.
“I feel like my joy comes from my faith and it comes from a different place, not just from my performances in volleyball.
“I know that my savior is proud of me and how I act. That's where and that's who I'm trying to please, not anyone else.”
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