American duo Chase Budinger and Miles Evans have bid adieu to the Paris Summer Games, exiting after a determined but ultimately unsuccessful run. The beach volleyball pair, composed of former NBA player Budinger and his partner Evans, faced a series of challenging opponents, culminating in a final match against Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. The Norwegian pair defeated the Americans with decisive scores of 21-16 and 21-14.
Their journey, while short-lived at this Olympiad, began with promise. Budinger and Evans marked a victory against France in their initial match, setting hopeful expectations amongst their supporters. However, the duo encountered setbacks with subsequent defeats at the hands of teams from the Netherlands and Spain, placing them in the "lucky loser" stage of the competition.
Formidable Transition and Collaborative Strength
Budinger's transition from professional basketball to beach volleyball is nothing short of remarkable. The former NBA player, who spent seven years in the league, has brought not just his athletic prowess but an inspiring versatility to the sand courts. His partnership with Evans was forged at the beginning of the two-year Olympic qualifying season, a testament to the grit and determination both players have shown. They barely made it into the Games, clinching enough points in the last two weeks of June prior to the tournament.
The synergy between Budinger and Evans has been evident, both on and off the court. "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger remarked. Evans also shared the emotional high of competing at this level, saying, "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."
Memorable Venue and Future Aspirations
One of the standout moments for the pair was a match played beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, attended by 12,000 enthusiastic fans. "Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling – you can't replicate these types of memories that we'll have," Budinger noted, capturing the magic of the experience.
The respect for Budinger's athletic journey extends beyond his immediate circle. Opponent Anders Mol praised him, 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. He is a really athletic guy. And it's really cool. I have so much respect for that journey."
Looking Ahead to 2028
Despite the early exit, Budinger and Evans are already eyeing future competitions, particularly the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the beach volleyball venue is planned for Santa Monica. Budinger, who will be approaching 40 years old by then, shared his pragmatic outlook: "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."
Evans, too, holds a positive view of their prospects: "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." The duo took a poignant moment to savor their last look at the iconic Paris venue, with Evans recounting, "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.'"
While their Paris campaign has ended, the journey of Budinger and Evans is defined by remarkable resilience and the pursuit of dreams beyond the conventional path. Their story underlines the essence of the Olympic spirit – one of enduring effort, versatility, and the unyielding pursuit of excellence.