American Duo's Olympic Beach Volleyball Dream Ends at Paris Games
The journey for American beach volleyball players Chase Budinger and Miles Evans in the Paris Summer Games came to a premature end as they were defeated by the formidable Norwegian pair Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. Their Olympic campaign concluded in the lucky loser stage, after a series of mixed results in the group stages.
Budinger and Evans started their Olympic journey on a high note, securing a victory against France in their initial match. However, their momentum faltered as they subsequently faced defeats against teams from the Netherlands and Spain. Their final match against Norway, with scores of 21-16 and 21-14 in favor of Mol and Sorum, marked the end of their Paris campaign.
The partnership between Budinger, a former NBA player, and Evans began at the onset of the two-year Olympic qualifying season. Budinger, who spent seven years in the NBA, made a significant athletic switch to beach volleyball ahead of the Olympic bid. The duo managed to qualify for the Olympics only in the last two weeks of June, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
The Paris Games provided a spectacular backdrop for their matches, particularly a notable game played beneath the Eiffel Tower, which drew an audience of 12,000 fans. Despite their exit, Budinger and Evans cherished the experience, with Budinger reflecting on how playing in the Olympic venue ranks among his greatest sports moments.
"Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger said, capturing the emotional weight of the occasion. Evans echoed the sentiment, remarking, "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."
Norwegian player Anders Mol expressed his admiration for Budinger's athletic versatility. "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," Mol commented.
Toward the end of their Olympic appearance, Evans vividly described a moment of reflection they shared. "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,'" he said, indicating the profound impact the experience had on both athletes.
Looking forward, Budinger and Evans have set their sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the beach volleyball venue is planned for Santa Monica. Budinger, who will be nearing 40 years old at that time, remains optimistic about the future. "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 acknowledged.
Evans also holds hope for their future participation in the 2028 Games. "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," he expressed, underscoring the indelible memories of their Paris adventure.
Though their Paris campaign may have ended earlier than hoped, Budinger and Evans have demonstrated the spirit and tenacity that define true athletes. Their journey from qualifying in just two weeks to competing at the Olympics, under the iconic Eiffel Tower, will remain a poignant chapter in their sporting careers.