American beach volleyball players Chase Budinger and Miles Evans recently concluded their journey at the Paris Summer Games, marking an experience filled with highs and lows. Despite a valiant effort, the pair exited in the lucky loser stage after succumbing to the Norwegian duo of Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. The match concluded with definitive scores of 21-16 and 21-14 in favor of Norway.
A Mixed Journey
Budinger and Evans started their Olympic campaign on a positive note, securing an initial victory against a team from France. However, their momentum faltered as they faced subsequent defeats at the hands of teams from the Netherlands and Spain.
The journey to the Olympics was far from straightforward for the American duo. Their partnership began at the onset of the two-year Olympic qualifying season. It wasn't until the final two weeks of June, shortly before the Games commenced, that they earned enough points to secure their spot in Paris. This last-minute qualification added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to their Olympic debut.
Memorable Moments
Their time in Paris came with unforgettable moments, particularly a match played beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower in front of a crowd of 12,000 fans. Reflecting on the experience, Chase Budinger said, "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure." This sentiment was echoed by Miles Evans, who shared, "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."
Budinger, who spent seven years in the NBA before transitioning to beach volleyball, has embraced the unique challenges and rewards of his new sport. His NBA career has given him a distinctive perspective on the athletic rigor required to compete at the highest levels of two very different sports. Norwegian player Anders Mol expressed his admiration, stating, "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. [...] I have so much respect for that journey."
Looking Forward
As they wrapped up their Olympic experience, both Budinger and Evans took a moment to savor their surroundings. "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,'" recounted Evans.
With an eye on the future, the pair is already looking towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Set to be hosted in Santa Monica, the beach volleyball venue promises another spectacular setting. Evans expressed his aspirations by saying, "I hope that we can make the 2028 Olympics and see what that's all about. But this will always be one of the best memories of my life."
For Budinger, the 2028 Games present both a goal and a challenge due to the inevitable march of time. He remarked on the physical demands as he approaches 40, "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."
As they leave Paris with a mix of emotions, the experiences, and memories they have gathered lay a solid foundation for their aspirations in Los Angeles. The journey may have started with beach volleyball, but the story of their athletic pursuits is far from over.