Chase Budinger and Miles Evans saw their dreams of an Olympic medal come to an early end at the 2024 Paris Olympics, exiting in the Round of 16 of the beach volleyball competition. Their campaign was terminated by the defending champions from Norway, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, who handed them a straight-sets defeat, 21-16, 21-14.
The duo from the United States had a rollercoaster journey to reach this stage. They made headlines in June by qualifying for the Paris Olympics after ascending the points rankings. Their initial performance was promising as they triumphed over a French duo in their opening match. However, subsequent losses against formidable teams from the Netherlands and Spain put them in a precarious position. The "lucky losers" round win against an Australian team finally secured their passage to the Round of 16, but it was there that their journey met an insurmountable obstacle in Mol and Sorum.
For Chase Budinger, the Olympics represented a significant chapter in a varied athletic career. Selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger began his professional journey with the Houston Rockets. His NBA career saw him traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012, and later, stints with the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns followed before he retired from professional basketball in 2017. Transitioning from basketball to beach volleyball, Budinger, alongside Miles Evans, qualified for the Paris Olympics, marking another high point in his sporting life.
Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Budinger remarked, "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure. My first couple of matches, stepping onto the court with 12,000 people cheering ... it was just an incredible atmosphere. Playing underneath the lights, underneath the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling -- you can't replicate these type of memories that we'll have."
Despite their elimination, Budinger's journey from the hard courts of the NBA to the sands of Olympic beach volleyball remains a testament to his versatility and persistence. The athlete from Carlsbad, Calif., continues to surprise with his sporting ventures, and at 36, he hinted at contemplating the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, anticipated to be held in Santa Monica. "I'll be old as dirt," he quipped. "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."
While Budinger and Evans exited the competition, another American men's beach volleyball team kept the nation's hopes alive. Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh advanced to the quarterfinals, executing a clinical straight-sets victory over Italy's Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai, 21-17, 21-18.
The Paris Olympics have provided a stage for dramatic contests and poignant performances in beach volleyball. For Budinger and Evans, the journey may have been shorter than hoped, but the memories and experiences have etched indelible marks on their careers. Budinger's transition from one professional sport to another at the highest level is a rare feat that underscores his athletic prowess and dedication. With the Olympics returning to the United States in 2028, who knows what chapters remain unwritten in his storied career?