Meet the Americans who will compete for Beach Volleyball glory under the Eiffel Tower
On 10 June, USA Volleyball revealed the athletes who will represent the United States on the sand courts in the heart of Paris this summer.
With a limit of two pairs per nation for each gender, the roster includes*:
Kelly Cheng - Sara Hughes
Taryn Kloth - Kristen Nuss
Andy Benesh - Miles Partain
Miles Evans - Chase Budinger
The world's top beach volleyball players will meet next at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set to take place from 26 July to 11 August, right at the foot of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
- Check out the beach volleyball stadium under the Eiffel Tower
- How to qualify for beach volleyball Paris 2024
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Meet the players
Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes are the leading pair for Team USA at the upcoming Olympics. Cheng, who previously competed in Tokyo 2020 with Sarah Sponcil but did not win a medal, reunited with her college partner Hughes to take the beach volleyball world by storm, becoming world champions together in 2023. The pair also won the 2024 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Ostrava, Czech Republic on 9 June.
They will be accompanied by Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss, who paired up during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and went 36-0 in their one season together at Lousiana State University. 6-foot, 4-inch Kloth, and 5-foot, 6-inch Nuss will both make their Olympic debuts this summer.
Hopes are high for the medal-contending American women. Reigning Olympic champions from Tokyo 2020 April Ross and Alix Klineman are resuming their tour after having children last year, but will not be competing in Paris.
Also making their Olympic debut are Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, who found their form just in time in Ostrava, taking the bronze medal at the Beach Pro Tour Finals. Benesh, 29, and Partain, 22, are currently ranked number four in the world and are one of just two teams currently holding a winning record against the dominant Norwegian team of Mol and Sorum. They will also be the youngest U.S. men’s beach team in Olympic history since the sport debuted in 1996.
Ex-NBA player Chase Budinger trades hardwood court for sand
The final US Olympic beach volleyball quota went to former NBA player Chase Budinger and partner Miles Evans, who beat out compatriots Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb in the international rankings for the last berth for Paris. Budinger retired from basketball in 2017 and transitioned to pro beach volleyball in 2018. After playing with five different partners, he finally teamed up with Evans for the 2023 season, and now, the Olympic Games.
USA and Olympic Beach Volleyball
Since beach volleyball was introduced to the Olympics in 1996, the Americans have consistently brought home at least one medal in either the women's or men's events, capturing gold in six out of seven Games. The men triumphed in three of the first four tournaments, taking home gold in 1996, 2000, and 2008. However, they have not reached the podium since. On the women's side, the US has medaled at every Olympics since 2004.
Will the streak continue this summer?