The journey of Chase Budinger and Miles Evans in the 2024 Paris Olympics beach volleyball competition came to a halt in the Round of 16. The duo faced a formidable challenge against the defending champions from Norway, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. Despite a valiant effort, they were overcome in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14.
Transition from the Hardwood to the Sand
Chase Budinger's athletic prowess has been evident long before this Olympic foray. Selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger carved out a notable career in the NBA. Initially playing for the Houston Rockets, he was eventually traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012, later suiting up for the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. After retiring from professional basketball in 2017, Budinger shifted his competitive spirit to the sandy courts of beach volleyball.
“Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure,” Budinger reflected. “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.”
The Olympic Journey
The path to the Paris Olympics for Budinger and Evans was marked by perseverance and dedication. They secured their spot in June, ascending through the points rankings and earning their place among the world’s elite. Their Olympic campaign began on a high note with a victory over a French duo. However, subsequent matches saw them falter against strong teams from the Netherlands and Spain, both times losing in straight sets.
Despite these setbacks, Budinger and Evans displayed their resilience in the "lucky losers" round, where they triumphed over an Australian team, thus securing their place in the Round of 16. Fate, however, drew them together with Mol and Sorum, the Norwegian team that clinched gold in the Tokyo Games. The experience and skill of the Norwegian pair proved too much for Budinger and Evans, bringing their Olympic quest to an end.
Looking Forward
As the beach volleyball competition advances, another American men's team has emerged as a beacon of hope. Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh advanced to the quarterfinals, having defeated Italy's Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18. Their progression injects excitement and anticipation into the US volleyball community.
For Budinger, the Olympic experience has been about more than just the outcome. The memories forged in Paris, competing under the iconic Eiffel Tower, have left an indelible mark. Reflecting on his journey, he added, “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.”
Budinger hails from Carlsbad, Calif., a town that has witnessed his athletic journey from the basketball courts to the beach volleyball sands. The next Olympics, set to take place in Los Angeles in 2028, are anticipated to be held in Santa Monica. Whether Budinger will compete remains to be seen, but his transition from basketball to beach volleyball has already been a remarkable chapter in his sporting career.