Tom Cruise executed an extraordinary Hollywood-style stunt to help bring the 2024 Paris Olympics to a thrilling close on Sunday, as he officially passed the torch to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Summer Games.
The “Mission: Impossible” star took center stage at the Stade de France, where he began his daring feat by jumping from the stadium’s roof, landing with precision on the field below. Awaiting him was the official Olympic flag, which he received from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who had just added more gold medals to her illustrious career.
But Cruise wasn’t done. In true action-hero fashion, he mounted a motorcycle and sped through the streets of Paris, making his way to a plane near the iconic Eiffel Tower. What followed was a dramatic pre-recorded video, showcasing the actor’s renowned penchant for performing his own stunts.
The footage featured Cruise flying the Olympic flag across the Atlantic to the U.S., where he skydived over Los Angeles and made a dramatic landing near the famous Hollywood sign.
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In a final flourish, Cruise attached the five Olympic rings to the letters “O” in “Hollywood,” symbolically marking the transition from Paris to LA. The star took to social media to celebrate the moment, posting on X, “Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA.”
TMZ had reported earlier this month that Cruise, 62, had approached the International Olympic Committee with the idea of being involved in the closing ceremony. However, the full extent of his role remained under wraps until the grand reveal.
Paparazzi had captured images of the actor filming parts of his stunt video in Los Angeles back in March, but at the time, no one knew the significance of the footage.
Cruise’s connection to the Olympics runs deep. A longtime fan, he even carried the Olympic torch in Los Angeles during the 2004 ceremonial relay, which concluded in Athens, Greece, just before the Games began. This year, Cruise was spotted cheering on Team USA at the women’s gymnastics qualifiers on July 28, where he expressed his admiration for the athletes.
“It’s awesome,” he told Reuters. “Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they have to do, the sense of accomplishment.”
The Paris Olympics attracted a host of other famous faces, including Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Nick Jonas, and more. Lady Gaga, who introduced her longtime partner Michael Polansky as her “fiancé” while attending a swimming competition, delivered a dazzling performance during the controversial opening ceremony, singing French icon Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon truc en plumes.”
Celine Dion also made a powerful return to the stage during the opening ceremony, closing the event with a moving performance after years of battling stiff person syndrome, marking a poignant comeback that left audiences in awe.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered not just for the athletic feats but also for the memorable contributions from the world of entertainment, with Tom Cruise’s epic stunt serving as a fitting finale to an unforgettable event.
