Chase Budinger and Miles Evans' Paris Olympic Journey Ends in Heartbreak
American beach volleyball duo Chase Budinger and Miles Evans saw their spirited run at the Paris Summer Games come to an end earlier than they had hoped. The pair were knocked out in the lucky loser stage by the formidable Norwegian team of Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. The Norwegians, known for their dominance on the sand, sealed their victory with scores of 21-16 and 21-14, bringing an end to the Americans' Olympic dreams in a dramatic fashion.
The road to Paris had been a rigorous one for Budinger and Evans. Their Olympic journey began on a high note with a triumph over France. However, subsequent losses to the Netherlands and Spain put their hopes on thin ice. Despite a valiant effort, their defeat against Norway ultimately ended their campaign.
Chase Budinger's transition from the NBA to the competitive world of beach volleyball is nothing short of inspiring. Having spent seven years on the basketball court, Budinger turned to beach volleyball, beginning his partnership with Evans at the start of the two-year Olympic qualifying season. "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger shared. His athletic versatility has garnered respect from peers, including Norwegian standout Anders Mol, who remarked, "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."
The path to Paris was not without its challenges. Budinger and Evans earned enough points for Olympic qualification just in the final two weeks of June before the Games. The hard-fought journey culminated in a match beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, witnessed by an electrifying crowd of 12,000 fans. "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," Evans reflected on the experience. The magical setting added to the poignancy of their final match. Evans reminisced, "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.'"
Despite the early exit, the future holds promise for Budinger and Evans. They have already set their sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where beach volleyball will take center stage at Santa Monica. Budinger, who will be approaching 40 years old by then, remains optimistic about his potential participation. "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.
The memories of Paris will remain etched in their minds. "Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling – you can't replicate these types of memories that we'll have," Budinger fondly recalled. Evans echoed this sentiment, saying, "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."
As Budinger and Evans return home, they do so with their heads held high. Their journey may have ended sooner than anticipated, but their resilience and determination have left a lasting impression on the sport. For now, they will take the time to reflect, recover, and prepare for what lies ahead, with the dream of standing on the Olympic podium in Los Angeles in 2028 firmly in their sights.