PARIS – It’s not every day that the worlds of badminton and basketball – on the highest national level – intersect up close and personal. Add a California connection to two sports both contested on courts and involving a net (albeit serving very different purposes) and not even boatloads of rain can dampen the moment.
The 24-year-old twin sisters, Kerry and Annie Xu, made their Olympic debut in badminton on Day 1 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024,facing a formidable Chinese duo in a women’s doubles match. The post-match chatter quickly turned to their “unreal experience” last night alongside fellow Team USA athletes on the Seine River. Among the highlights was meeting hoops superstar and fellow Californian Stephen Curry.
“Steph Curry was very humble, taking the time to chat with everyone he was meeting and he shook our hands and that was kind of a fan girl moment,” said Annie Xu.
“It started out surreal for me just to be on a boat with some of the best athletes in the USA. Seeing LeBron James and Coco (Gauff) as our flag bearers was just shocking to me. And Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, other top track and field athletes.
“Knowing that you are there with some of the best athletes in your country was such a proud moment,” Annie said.
“I am still continually hearing the song Paris in the Rain in my head,” said Kerry Xu, referring to the hit by the American singer and producer Lauv. “It was so exciting, with all of us starting out very excited in with everyone full on in our Ralph Lauren gear, but we got soaked without umbrellas, but even then it was just such an unreal experience.”
“The rain started slowly, but as we were rounding the corner to the Eiffel Tower, it started pouring and everyone around just gave up just drenched. You couldn’t really tell if it my rain water or tears, kind of a mix,” said Annie.
The Xu sisters may have lost their opening match on court number one at the Porte de La Chappelle Arena, 21-11, 21-14, and considering a few second-set charges and long rallies chalked up their first time competing on an Olympic badminton court as an invaluable learning experience.
“The feeling that we’re now Olympians is very big and amplified times 10 by the people in the stadiums cheering. I heard a lot of people say, ‘Go USA’, so I’m very proud that there are Americans out here to support us,” Kerry Xu said. Back home, in the States, it’s mostly rare outside California to be in a packed stadium this big.