Philippine swimmer Jarrod Hatch during the Heroes Parade of the Paris Olympic Athletes. – MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — For Team Philippine swimmer Jarrod Hatch, his trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics is full of memories, including being in the same room as LeBron James.
Competing for the Philippines and bonding with fellow members of the Philippine national team is one thing, but the craziest thing about being in Paris is being in the company of NBA superstars.
Read: Philippine gambler Jarrod Hatch eliminated early from Paris Olympics swimming
“LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker were in the same room and literally a foot away from me with bodyguards glaring at me,” Hatch said, laughing just remembering the incident.
“It was pretty crazy and awesome. I wasn’t even next to him, I just came around the corner and he (James) walked into the room with me. It was just me, him, Booker and KD. I was kind of lost. I had no idea. It drives me crazy just thinking about it now.”
Hatch’s chance meeting with the U.S. basketball star occurred at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
LeBron James (6) of Team USA celebrates after defeating Serbia during the men’s basketball semifinal at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Before the parade, Hatch was in what he thought was just a room, but James and his fellow NBA stars walked in nearby, surprising Hatch.
Read: LeBron ‘very humbled’ after third Olympic basketball gold medal
LeBron and team defeated Serbia in the semi-finals and the host France in the finals to win the gold medal for the United States.
Hatch, a self-described Michael Jordan fan, said he loved the four-time NBA champion’s 2018 season, when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers in a fierce rivalry with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
That performance in Cleveland made Hatch a believer.
“I’ve always been a Jordan guy, but after seeing LeBron play like crazy when the Warriors lost the Finals in 2018 or ’19, I was like, ‘Okay, if you want to call him the GOAT, I get it,'” Hatch said.
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“But for me, Jourdan, it’s tough to give up when you’re 6-0 up in the final. It’s ridiculous… but I’m a swimmer, I don’t know anything,” Hatch joked.
Check out Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
