Badminton Twins Annie and Kerry Xu Cherish 'Fan Girl Moments' With U.S. Athletes And Fellow Californian Stephen Curry

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.

“Because we were the first match of the session, they were pumping all the get ready music and all this hype was building up. And even being under the stands, we heard the roaring of the crowd and everything was vibrating.

“I was having this emotional moment – I can’t believe I’m actually here and I’m doing it with my best friend. I was trying not to cry and get my face on, get into the zone and block everything out,” she added.

Annie shared similar sentiments: “Just speechless, I’m still trying to find the words to describe my emotions – it’s a mixture of joy, nerves, happiness. It’s hard to not want to cry.”

As some of the elite female players in the U.S., the two sisters who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, will now do their best to put the emotions behind them and focus on winning important badminton matches over the coming days in Paris. On Sunday, the 2023 Pan American Games silver medalists will play a duo from Hong Kong, yet another tough opponent.

The Xu sisters have family from back home in California rooting them on in Paris, including their mother and older sister, nine years their elder.

“So much has happened over the past few days, but now, it should be easier – to stay in our rooms, mentally prepare and physically rest much better,” said Kerry Xu.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to take away what we’ve learned from this first match, having gained the experience and apply it to the next match – like Kerry said we’ll be able to mentally and physically focus a little bit more, given that some the Olympic Games experiences are out of the way for right now,” said Annie.

“Obviously, there is still the Closing Ceremony, though,” she said.

Perhaps then, Annie and Kerry will share yet another memorable moment with their fellow Californian and Team USA athlete, who just like them, will also be swiftly attacking the net over the days ahead here in Paris.