Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, the American beach volleyball pair, saw their journey at the Paris Summer Games come to an end as they were eliminated in the lucky loser stage by the formidable Norwegian duo, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. Despite this setback, their Olympic campaign was filled with notable highs, including a memorable win against France in their initial match.
Unfortunately, the momentum from their opening victory couldn't carry them past subsequent matches, as they faced defeats at the hands of the Netherlands and Spain. Their final clash with Norway concluded with decisive scores of 21-16 and 21-14, in favor of the Norwegians.
The Budinger-Evans Partnership
Chase Budinger's transition from the NBA to the beach volleyball court has been nothing short of remarkable. Having spent seven years in the NBA, Budinger brought his athletic prowess to a new arena, partnering with Miles Evans at the start of the two-year Olympic qualifying season. The pair managed to secure enough points to compete in Paris only in the final two weeks of June preceding the Games.
Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Budinger noted, "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure." His sentiment was echoed by his partner Evans, who said, "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."
A Match to Remember
The highlight of their Olympic journey was undoubtedly the match played beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, attended by 12,000 fans. The experience left an indelible mark on both athletes. "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.
Norwegian opponent Anders Mol also expressed admiration for Budinger's unique sporting journey. "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.
Looking Forward to 2028
As Budinger and Evans reflect on their Paris experience, their sights are firmly set on the future. The duo is already eyeing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the beach volleyball venue is planned for Santa Monica. Budinger, who will be approaching 40 years old during the 2028 Olympics, remains optimistic. "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 shared.
Evans, sharing his partner's enthusiasm, added, "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."
Prior to departing Paris, the duo took a moment to take in the full splendor of their Olympic experience. Evans reflected, "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.'" It was a fitting end to a well-fought tournament, imbued with the kind of memories that define athletes' careers.
Budinger and Evans' journey in Paris may have ended sooner than hoped, but their story is far from over. With the Los Angeles Games on the horizon, the pair remains committed and determined, ready to make their mark once again on the world's biggest sporting stage.