How Many Tattoos Does Matt Anderson Have? What do they mean?

Matt Anderson, an American volleyball player, is known for his impressive skills on the court and his meaningful tattoos off it. While the exact number of Anderson's tattoos isn't publicly documented, he has at least six pieces, including a family tree, four roses, a family crest, dates commemorating his father, and an autism awareness symbol. These tattoos, visible during matches, have become part of Anderson's iconic appearance.

Born on April 18, 1987, in Buffalo, New York, Anderson stands at 6 feet 10 inches tall. He has been a key player for the U.S. national volleyball team since 2008, competing in four Olympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020, and the upcoming 2024) and securing a bronze medal in 2016.

Anderson's professional career has taken him worldwide, playing for top clubs in South Korea, Italy, Russia, and Turkey. He's particularly noted for his successful stint with Zenit Kazan in Russia, where he won multiple CEV Champions League titles between 2015 and 2019.

Anderson is known as an outside hitter and opposite for his powerful spikes and serves. His achievements include gold medals in the FIVB World Cup (2015, 2023) and a bronze in the FIVB World Championship (2018).

As sourced from Orange County Register, off the court, Anderson is involved in charitable work, particularly supporting autism awareness, a cause close to his heart due to his nephew's condition.

The Family Tree

Matt Anderson, the 6-foot-10 outside hitter for the U.S. national volleyball team, wears his family history on his skin. His most prominent tattoo is a large tree that stretches over much of his upper left arm. This design is more than just body art; it's a living symbol of Anderson's family bonds.

"The tree is for my family," Anderson explained in a 2016 interview with the Orange County Register. "All my aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives across the board. We're a big twisted tree. We're vast and we're everywhere and I can always bring them with me."

The tattoo features a thick, sturdy trunk with deep grooves winding upwards. Long branches extend in various directions.

Read More About:- Matt Anderson Family

Roses for Siblings

Below the family tree on Anderson's forearm are four roses, each for one of his siblings, as sourced from the Orange County Register.

Tribute to a Father

On Anderson's right rib cage, a tattoo of the Anderson family crest which represents a personal loss. Beneath the crest are two dates: "8-16-52" and "1-23-10" – the birth and death dates of his father, Michael Anderson, who passed away in January 2010 while Matt was playing professionally in South Korea, source from the Orange County Register.

Autism Awareness

Perhaps the most touching of Anderson's tattoos is the one on his right wrist. It features a blue puzzle piece – the symbol for autism awareness – with his nephew Tristin's signature below it. Tristin, who has autism, signed his name on a piece of paper, which Anderson then had tattooed.

Anderson explained the significance to his sister Joelle: "I can use volleyball to get the word out about autism. People will see it when I serve and that will raise more awareness." (Source: Orange County Register)

Matt Anderson's Known Tattoos