Tom Cruise Makes Daring Entrance at Olympic Finale by Abseiling from Stadium Roof
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Tom Cruise lands at the Olympics closing ceremony
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise delivered a jaw-dropping moment at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony on Sunday night, descending from the roof of the Stade de France by abseiling into the stadium. The crowd erupted in cheers as Cruise, clad in a leather jacket and gloves, made his dramatic entrance while musician H.E.R. performed on guitar.
In a special pre-recorded segment, Cruise embarked on a cinematic journey from Paris to Los Angeles, marking the handover for the 2028 Olympics. The clip featured him traveling through iconic Parisian landmarks and arriving in LA, unfurling the Olympic colors in front of the Hollywood sign.
Fans clamoured for selfies with Tom Cruise during the Games
Back at the stadium, Cruise was greeted by a thrilled crowd of athletes after rappelling approximately 50 meters (164 feet). He took the Olympic flag from American gymnast Simone Biles before zooming off on a motorbike.
The pre-recorded film showcasing his journey was accompanied by a soundtrack from California's own Red Hot Chili Peppers, who later performed their classic hit "Can't Stop" on a beach in Los Angeles. The ceremony also featured live performances from Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, with Snoop appearing alongside Dr. Dre.
The closing ceremony coincided with a dramatic finish to the Games, with the US topping the medals table following a thrilling win in the women’s basketball final. Snoop Dogg, a native of LA, was a familiar face throughout the Games, adding a local flavor to the spectacular finale.
Tom Cruise, famed for his roles in *Top Gun* and known for performing his own stunts, made a spectacular appearance at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony. His daring descent from the roof of the Stade de France, abseiling into the stadium, was a highlight of the event. Over the past decade, Cruise has performed similarly audacious stunts, including scaling Dubai's Burj Khalifa and clinging to the exterior of a plane in flight for the *Mission: Impossible* series.
Artistic director Thomas Jolly enhanced the ceremony with a visually striking segment. In a darkened, atmospheric stadium, a troupe of dancers skillfully maneuvered five giant rings across the stage, assembling them into the iconic Olympic logo. This somber, sci-fi aesthetic was abruptly energized by an upbeat performance from French band Phoenix, who played two of their hits. Athletes joined them on stage, much to the dismay of the stadium announcer.
Cruise exited the stadium in style on a motorbike
Cruise’s appearance had been one of the worst-kept secrets of the Games. Rumors had been circulating for days before he was photographed at the stadium on Sunday evening. The 62-year-old star had been seen throughout the Games cheering on the US team in the swimming relay and supporting American gymnast Simone Biles. “It’s awesome,” Cruise told Reuters, praising the remarkable performances of the athletes.
Jolly, who also orchestrated the ambitious opening ceremony last month featuring a boat parade along the River Seine and a memorable return performance by Céline Dion, once again demonstrated his flair for grand, cinematic presentations.
The U.S. men’s water polo team is in a strong position for the LA Games following their bronze medal performance at the Paris Olympics.
A few days before the U.S. men’s water polo team played its first game at the Paris Olympics, coach Dejan Udovicic briefly let his guard down.
Udovicic, 54, a determined Serbian who has coached extensively in his home country, reflected on how much he has evolved since taking over the U.S. program in 2013. “I realized I couldn’t immediately change the team or the culture as I wanted,” he said. “I had to change myself significantly to align with their working methods. It wasn’t easy for them to deal with me, but I’m grateful for their patience.”
This personal growth was evident as the U.S. team made an impressive run through the Olympic tournament. Although they lost 10-6 to Serbia in the semifinals, they bounced back to secure a thrilling 11-8 victory over Hungary in the bronze medal match.
This marked the U.S. men’s water polo team’s best Olympic performance since their last medal in 2008 when they won silver after falling to Hungary in the final. More significantly for Udovicic and his team, this result fuels optimism for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, where a top podium finish appears increasingly attainable, given the sport's strong presence in the U.S.
“I think this team might never be the same,” said captain Ben Hallock. “People move on and pursue different paths, but the foundation we've built is solid and something to build on.”
The world’s leading water polo nations recognize this too.
“It’s a great generation,” said Hungary’s Denes Varga. “They can achieve even more in the next two or three Olympic cycles.”
The U.S. team has been on a steady upward trajectory since their disappointing performance in 2016, when they failed to advance past the group stage, scoring only 35 goals and finishing 10th in Rio de Janeiro.
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