PARIS – They’ve been to parks, rode horses, watched some water polo.
“And doing puzzles!” chimes in Zeke, the older brother.
Five-year-old Zeke is one of U.S. men’s volleyball captain Micah Christenson’s three children, and at this moment, he’s getting a little bored with his daddy’s post-match interview. But he and his 3-year-old brother Quinn are hanging in there and hanging out, while their baby sister Finley, “can’t hang just yet with these boys,” says Christenson.
A few moments earlier, teammate Matt Anderson had walked past, holding his 4-year-old son Jamie’s hand and 2-year-old daughter Juno is his arms, headphones still on her ears. Outside in the walkway, there’s more kids and families celebrating a big win.
It’s a heart-warming picture that tells you something important about this U.S. team.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
“Yeah, we’re old,” Christenson says, with a laugh. “That’s what it says.”
This gray-bearded U.S. team – past bedtime, as it were – had just improved to 4-0 at these Paris Olympics, beating Brazil 26-24, 28-30, 25-19, 25-19 in Monday’s late-night quarterfinal. The victory moved the Americans into the semifinals, where they’ll face world No. 1 Poland for a spot in the gold medal match.
The win extended a spirited Olympics run for a U.S. team whose best quality might be its experience. Of the 12 players on Monday’s start list, nine are older than 30. Four are on the other side of 35.
Which helps explain all these kids running around the backstage of South Paris Arena.
“Shows how many life experiences we go through together in being dads and sharing that experience,” Christenson says. “It’s just wonderful. My kids call all of our teammates uncles. This is one big family.”
Five U.S. players – Christenson, Anderson, David Smith, Aaron Russell and Garrett Muagututia – have either had kids attend these Games or they are planning to be here at some point, according to the team.
That number doesn’t include coach John Speraw, whose daughters Brooklyn and Hailey – ages 8 and 7 – are rushing to greet him. He picks up both in his arms, being told by someone that next Olympics, he won’t be able to do that with them anymore.
“I got a little later start than some of my players,” said the 52-year-old Speraw, “so (the kids) are all around the same age. The dads are busy doing work, and they’re having a great time. I mean, Paris has been fantastic for an Olympic Games.”
Speraw’s players have been pretty fantastic, too. Against Brazil, as in previous matches in this Olympics, the team’s maturity showed in how they responded when circumstances got dicey.
After squeaking out the first set, the U.S. team blew a six-point lead to cough up the second despite leading it 21-16 and having two set points. Brazil was suddenly rolling with a noisy crowd in its corner. Didn’t matter. The U.S. jumped ahead early in the third set (and made that lead hold up) before gradually pulling away in the fourth.
The next one against Poland will be tougher, the Americans realize. But there’s time to worry about that later.
In the meantime, it’s hugs and photos and memories.
And maybe, if there’s time, a few puzzles.
“I’m happy for all the families that support our guys,” Speraw says. “This is not an easy profession. Our guys are gone a lot or families are gone a lot.
“For them to be here to share this moment, I think it’s really special.”
Reach Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @Gentry_Estes.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.