Local Olympians Surge into Medal Contention

Two United States pairs were entered in the men’s beach volleyball competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, but after the first week only one was left—the duo of Miles Partain and Andy Benesh. They earned five of a possible six points to place second in group play behind Chileans Jorge Luis Alayo and  Noslen Diaz, then upset the Italian duo of Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai, 21-17, 21-18, Monday in the round of 16. America’s other team, Miles Evans and Chase Budinger, won their lucky loser match Saturday before falling to Christian Sorum and  Anders Mol of Norway in the round of 16.

Partain won three City titles at Palisades High before joining older brother Marcus on the UCLA indoor team. On Wednesday, Partain and Benesh met undefeated Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan from Qatar in the quarterfinals. Awaiting the winners in the semifinals are Sweden’s David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig, the No. 1-ranked duo in the world. The gold medal match is Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Eiffel Tower Stadium. 

Meanwhile, Village School alum Johnny Hooper and the USA men’s water polo team went 3-2 in pool play to finish in third place and qualify for the bracket phase.

Hooper tallied four goals in five Group A games—one against Italy, two against Romania and a power-play goal in Monday’s 14-11 victory over Croatia, the team that beat the Americans by the same score in the fifth-place game at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. By avenging that loss the Americans leapfrogged Croatia  in the standings and set up Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup with Group B runner-up Australia. If victorious Team USA will face either Group A champion Greece or reigning champion Serbia, the fourth-place team in Group B, in the semifinals early Friday morning. The gold medal  match is Sunday morning at the iconic Paris La Défense Arena. Spain is the favorite, having gone undefeated in group play while outscoring its five opponents 67-39.