Tom Cruise pulled off an unforgettable Hollywood stunt at the 2024 Paris Olympics—and he did it for the love of adrenaline. The action star stunned audiences worldwide with his daring performance during the closing ceremony, handing off the Olympic torch to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Summer Games.
During the CNBC x Boardroom: Game Plan panel at the Fairmont Miramar hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., Casey Wasserman, the president and chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, raved about Cruise’s participation and commitment. Wasserman shared an inside look into Cruise’s epic involvement, revealing just how dedicated the “Top Gun” star was to pulling off the stunt.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cruise had just finished filming “Mission: Impossible” in London when he immediately hopped on a plane to Los Angeles, landing at 4 a.m. to begin shooting a scene for the Olympics. “He finished filming ‘Mission: Impossible’ at 6 p.m. in London, got right on a plane. He landed in LA at 4 a.m. and filmed the scene where he pulls onto a military plane,” Wasserman recounted, per the Hollywood Reporter.
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Wasserman explained that, initially, they expected to get only a brief appearance from Cruise—a quick scene with the Hollywood sign, a handoff, and then a stunt double for the rest. However, Cruise had other ideas. “About five minutes into the presentation, [Cruise] goes, ‘I’m in. But I’m only doing it if I get to do everything,’” Wasserman said, highlighting the actor’s enthusiasm and hands-on approach. Wasserman then revealed: that “every step of the way, [Cruise] got more involved and more engaged” and ultimately did the pre-taped stunt for free.
On August 11, Cruise wowed viewers with his breathtaking appearance at the closing ceremony in Paris. He launched himself from the top of Stade de France, parachuting onto the field where he grabbed the Olympic flag. Cruise then received the flag from LA Mayor Karen Bass and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, before taking off through the streets of Paris on a motorcycle. His cinematic exit included boarding a plane near the Eiffel Tower, which symbolically “flew” the Olympic flag to California.
In true action-hero style, the video montage then showed Cruise skydiving onto the iconic Hollywood sign, where he placed the famous five Olympic rings, marking the countdown to the 2028 Games in LA. “Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA,” Cruise posted on X (formerly Twitter) following the event.
Though the death-defying stunt left fans in awe, Cruise has yet to publicly discuss the details of his preparation. However, reports from TMZ suggest that Cruise himself approached the Olympic committee, expressing interest in participating in the closing ceremony. His passion for the event was evident as he became more and more involved in the planning and execution of the stunt.
Before his grand Olympic appearance, Cruise had already been spotted in Paris, attending one of the women’s gymnastics events in July. “It’s awesome,” he told Reuters at the time. “Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they have to do, the sense of accomplishment.” His appreciation for the athletes and the Games added to the excitement of his involvement in the closing ceremony.
Cruise was not the only star to flock to Paris for the Olympics. Other A-list celebrities, including Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, were also in attendance, cheering on Team USA as they secured the most medals. But it was Cruise’s jaw-dropping stunt that stole the show and left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide, blending Hollywood spectacle with Olympic tradition in a way only he could.
Despite his high-octane performance, Cruise did not accept any payment for his involvement, adding another layer of admiration to the legendary actor’s already impressive career.
His contribution to the 2024 Paris Olympics will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most extraordinary moments in Olympic history, setting the stage for what promises to be an equally spectacular 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
