Under the iconic shadow of the Eiffel Tower, American beach volleyball duo Chase Budinger and Miles Evans saw their Olympic journey come to an end. The pair was eliminated from the Paris Summer Games after falling to the Norwegian team of Anders Mol and Christian Sorum in the lucky loser stage.
The Road to Paris
Budinger and Evans began their partnership at the start of the two-year Olympic qualifying season. Their collaboration bore fruit in the final two weeks of June, just in time to secure their spot in Paris. Their Olympic campaign began with a promising victory over France, setting the stage for what they hoped would be a memorable run.
However, the duo faced stiff competition and subsequently suffered defeats at the hands of teams from the Netherlands and Spain. Their last hope to advance rested on the match against Norway, where they were ultimately bested with scores of 21-16 and 21-14.
A Memorable Experience
Despite the early exit, both athletes found solace and pride in their Olympic experience. Chase Budinger, who formerly played in the NBA for seven years, expressed just how much the Olympic experience meant to him. "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger said.
His partner, Miles Evans, shared similar sentiments. "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," he revealed, reflecting on their journey.
Beneath the Eiffel Tower
One of the most iconic moments for the duo was playing a match beneath the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, an experience that will be etched in their memories forever. "Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling – you can't replicate these types of memories that we'll have," Budinger marveled.
Evans echoed this sentiment, stating, "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.'"
Respect from Rivals
Their efforts did not go unnoticed by their competitors. Norwegian player Anders Mol praised Budinger for his athletic journey, noting the stark differences between basketball and beach volleyball. "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.
Looking to the Future
The duo already has their sights set on the future, particularly the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the beach volleyball venue is planned for Santa Monica. While Budinger will be approaching 40 years old during those games, he remains optimistic about his longevity in the sport. "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 noted.
Evans, too, is hopeful for what lies ahead. "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 concluded.
For now, Chase Budinger and Miles Evans will cherish their experiences in Paris, the lessons learned, and the memories created under the dazzling lights of one of the world’s most famous landmarks.