An Olympian Journey: From Hardwood to Sand
Chase Budinger and Miles Evans's Olympic beach volleyball aspirations came to an end in the Round of 16 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their journey was halted by the formidable Norwegian duo of Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, the defending champions who dispatched the American pair in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14.
For Budinger, the transition from the hardwood to the sandy courts of beach volleyball has been nothing short of remarkable. Selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger commenced his professional sports career with the Houston Rockets before a trade sent him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012. His NBA journey also included stints with the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns before he retired from professional basketball in 2017.
The shift from basketball to beach volleyball was not an easy one, but Budinger, hailing from Carlsbad, Calif., embraced the challenge with the same determination that marked his NBA career. Budinger and Evans qualified for the Paris Olympics in June, climbing the ranks through sheer perseverance. Their Olympic campaign started promisingly with a victory over a French duo, but subsequent losses to teams from the Netherlands and Spain in straight sets pushed them into the "lucky losers" round. Their resolve saw them past an Australian team, securing their place in the Round of 16.
The defeat at the hands of Mol and Sorum, who previously clinched gold at the Tokyo Games, was a bittersweet culmination of their Olympic adventure. Yet Budinger remained reflective and appreciative of the experience. "Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure," Budinger said. "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."
As Budinger contemplates his future in beach volleyball, he acknowledges the physical demands of the sport. "I'll be old as dirt," he mused. "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."
The American contingent in beach volleyball did see a ray of hope, as another men's duo, Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh, advanced to the quarterfinals. They triumphed over Italy’s Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18, further cementing the U.S. presence in the sport at the Paris Olympics.
As the beach volleyball events progress, the athletes’ stories continue to unfold under the iconic skyline of Paris. Looking further ahead, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will bring the games back to American soil, with beach volleyball anticipated to be held in Santa Monica. For Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, the journey in Paris may have ended, but their tenacity and resolve embody the spirit of Olympic competition. They leave behind memories and experiences that transcend the results on the scoreboards, marking a significant chapter in their athletic careers.