Team Philippines’ swimmer Jarod Hatch during the Heroes parade for the Paris Olympics athletes. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ swimmer Jarod Hatch has a lot to remember in his trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics and it included being in the same room as LeBron James.
Competing for the Philippines is one, and creating a bond with his fellow Team Philippine members is another, but being in the presence of the NBA superstar takes the cake when it comes to the craziest things in Paris.
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“LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker were in the same room, literally a foot away from me to the point that the bodyguard was giving me the death stare,” said Hatch, who laughed just by recalling the incident.
“It was pretty crazy and awesome. I didn’t mean to be next to him, I just turned to a corner and he (James) walked into the room with me and it was just me, him, Booker and KD and I kind of lost it, I didn’t know. I’m losing it just thinking about it right now.”
The chance meeting between Hatch and the Team USA basketball star happened in the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games.
Team USA LeBron James (6) celebrates after beating Serbia during a men’s semifinals basketball game at Bercy Arena at the Paris Olympics 2024, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Before the parade, Hatch found himself in a room that he thought was just another room… until James and his fellow NBA stars entered the vicinity, catching Hatch by surprise.
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LeBron and company went on to win the gold medal for the USA, toppling Serbia in the semifinals and home bet France in the fina.
Hatch, admittedly a Michael Jordan guy, said he was fond of the four-time NBA champion’s 2018 season when he powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a spectacular rivalry with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
That Cleveland run made Hatch a believer.
“I’ve always been a Jordan guy but after seeing LeBron in 2018 or 19 against the Warriors when they lost the Finals, he went crazy. Ever since that moment, I was like, okay if you want to call him the GOAT, I get it,” Hatch said.
“But for me, Jardan, 6-0 in the Finals, that’s hard for me to give up. That’s ridiculous… but I’m a swimmer, I don’t know anything,” Hatch concluded in jest.