American Duo Exits Paris Summer Games After Tough Contest
American beach volleyball players Chase Budinger and Miles Evans saw their Olympic journey conclude at the Paris Summer Games. Their aspirations were dashed by the formidable Norwegian duo, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, in the lucky loser stage. This marked the end of a rollercoaster ride for the American team, who previously secured a memorable win against France in their opening match.
However, after their initial victory, Budinger and Evans faced setbacks, losing to both the Netherlands and Spain. Their final match against Norway was decisive, ending with scores of 21-16 and 21-14, both in favor of the Norwegian team.
Chase Budinger, a name familiar to basketball fans, brought his competitive spirit from the NBA, where he played for seven years, into the world of beach volleyball. His transition to this vastly different sport has been nothing short of remarkable.
"Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger reflected, underscoring the significance of his Olympic journey. The partnership with Evans began at the start of the two-year Olympic qualifying season, a period that required relentless dedication and effort. Their determination paid off as they accumulated enough points to secure a spot in Paris just two weeks before the Games commenced in June.
The stage was grand, with one of their matches held beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, attended by an impressive crowd of 12,000 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 said, capturing the magic of the moment.
Miles Evans echoed this sentiment, expressing his excitement and pride: "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."
The journey has also earned the respect of their competitors. Anders Mol, who along with Christian Sorum ultimately ended the Americans' run, had high praise for Budinger. "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 said, reflecting on Budinger's athletic versatility.
As Evans and Budinger took in their final moments at the venue, Evans shared a poignant realization: "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.'"
Looking ahead, both players are optimistic about their future in the sport and have set their sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The beach volleyball venue for those games is planned for Santa Monica, a location that holds a special allure for this dynamic partnership. "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," Evans remarked.
As for Budinger, age is just a number. "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 said, hinting at the possibility of seeing him compete again in the near future.
While their time in Paris did not end with a medal, the experience and memories forged from this Olympic chapter will undoubtedly resonate with Budinger and Evans as they continue their journey in beach volleyball, aiming for another shot at glory in LA.