The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded with an unforgettable finale, headlined by none other than Tom Cruise, star of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.
On August 11, at the Stade de France—the largest stadium in the country and host to many of the Games' most thrilling events—Cruise made a spectacular appearance during the closing ceremony.
After H.E.R. delivered a stirring rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," cameras captured Cruise standing atop the stadium, ready for action. In true Cruise fashion, the action icon leaped from the stadium roof, descending gracefully to the floor below. He then made his way through a sea of athletes to receive the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, symbolizing the handover from Paris to Los Angeles, the host city of the 2028 Summer Games.
But the spectacle didn't end there. Cruise, blending Hollywood flair with Olympic grandeur, hopped on a motorcycle and rode out of the stadium, zipping through the streets of Paris. The scene transitioned into footage of Cruise skydiving into Los Angeles, ushering in the next Summer Games. As the flag was passed on, the camera zoomed out to reveal Cruise standing before the iconic Hollywood Sign, which had been modified to include the five Olympic rings.
IT'S A BIRD. IT'S A PLANE. IT'S TOM CRUISE! 🤯#ParisOlympics | #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/5v4j8pOwBF
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the 2024 Paris Olympic ceremonies, had hinted in a July interview with Olympics.com that the closing ceremony, titled "Records," would reflect on the historical significance of the Olympic Games. He noted how the Games, believed to have started in 776 BC according to ancient records, were revived in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin, leading to the first modern Olympics in 1896 in Athens.
"This celebration is not just about festivity but also reflection," Jolly explained. "The ceremony is designed to make us think about the enduring impact of the Olympic Games on society. It's a tribute to how the Games once vanished, only to be revived, and how they could be rediscovered once more."
When one ceremony closes, the next begins. @TomCruise pic.twitter.com/rPS58Lwcxu
— LA28 (@LA28) August 11, 2024
Team USA dominated the Paris Olympics, finishing with a total of 126 medals—the highest of any nation. China followed with 91, and Great Britain secured 65.
Among the standout American athletes were gymnast Simone Biles, who secured three gold medals and a silver; swimmer Katie Ledecky, who became the most decorated female Olympian in U.S. history with four medals; and sprinter Noah Lyles, who clinched gold in the men’s 100-meter dash in a breathtaking photo finish.
Ledecky, along with rower Nick Mead, had the honor of carrying the American flag during the closing ceremony, marking the end of a remarkable Olympic journey for Team USA.