American Beach Volleyball Duo's Ups and Downs at Paris Summer Games
The Paris Summer Games delivered a whirlwind of emotions for American beach volleyball players Chase Budinger and Miles Evans. Despite an initial triumph over France, their Olympic journey was cut short after a string of losses that culminated in an exit during the lucky loser stage.
The American duo started strong, securing a notable win against France in their first match. Hope and excitement were at an all-time high as they looked to build on their early success. However, the tides turned swiftly, leading to consecutive defeats at the hands of the Netherlands and Spain. Their hopes were dashed further when they faced the formidable Norwegian duo, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. The Norwegians, with their precise gameplay, clinched victory with scores of 21-16 and 21-14, ending Budinger and Evans's Olympic journey.
For Chase Budinger, this Olympic appearance marked a significant milestone in what has already been a remarkable sporting career. A former NBA player, Budinger spent seven years competing at the highest level in basketball before making a transition to beach volleyball. Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Budinger stated, "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure."
Evans echoed the sentiment, expressing how the anticipation built around their Olympic debut was overwhelmingly justified. "We've been hyping this up for so long, and it definitely exceeded expectations. This is by far the coolest thing I've ever done in my entire life," he said.
The partnership between Budinger and Evans began at the start of the Olympic qualifying season, a two-year grind that tested their perseverance and skill. It wasn't until the final two weeks of June, just before the Games, that they secured enough points to compete in Paris. Playing beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, in front of an electrifying crowd of 12,000 fans, was a moment both athletes cherished. "Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling – you can't replicate these types of memories that we'll have," Budinger reminisced.
The match ended in disappointment, but not without admiration from their competitors. Anders Mol praised Budinger's athletic versatility, saying, "So much respect for Chase, who was able to play in the NBA for many years and was a great player there. And now he manages to play an Olympic sport for USA, beach volleyball. Those two sports are so different. He is a really athletic guy. And it's really cool. I have so much respect for that journey."
As the Games drew to a close for the American pair, they took a final moment to absorb the atmosphere and the gravity of their achievements. "We took a moment before we had to head out, just, 'Let's look at this one more time. We're not going to see this again,'" Evans shared.
Looking ahead, both players have their sights set on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the beach volleyball venue is expected to be Santa Monica. Despite the rapid approach of his 40s, Budinger remains optimistic about his future in the sport. "I'll be old as dirt. I've always said it's really up to my body. And I take it year by year of how my body's feeling. Right now I can say my body's been feeling great," he assured.
Though their journey in Paris ended sooner than hoped, Budinger and Evans's determination and sportsmanship have set the stage for future successes. Their Parisian adventure, marked by the glitz of the Eiffel Tower and the roar of enthusiastic spectators, will remain etched in their memories as they aim for new heights in their athletic careers.