Mission Impossible? Not for Tom Cruise: Hollywood Star Skydives into Olympic Closing Ceremony
The culmination of the Olympic Games has always signaled a magnificent adieu to one of the globe’s most prestigious athletic competitions. This year’s finale, however, boasted an additional dash of thrill with the involvement of none other than Tom Cruise.
Days prior, it was revealed that the legendary performer and risk-taker would be executing a “spectacular feat” during the event. Rumors circulated that Cruise would descend into Paris’ Stade de France and that a pre-recorded clip would showcase him parachuting onto the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. These speculations ultimately proved correct.
The action star, who is currently filming Mission: Impossible 8, performed the highly anticipated “epic stunt” on August 11. The stunt kicked off with him rappelling from the roof of the Stade de France and concluded with a prerecorded segment. According to Ben Winston, executive producer and creative director at Fulwell 73 Productions, the stunt took a year and a half to plan, as he shared with Vogue.
At 62, Cruise is celebrated for testing the limits of daredevilry. Given that Los Angeles is slated to host the 2028 Olympics, it was expected that an envoy from the city would be present to receive the Olympic standard, as per custom. Live footage captured Cruise plummeting from the apex of the Stade de France, where he welcomed athletes upon touchdown.
The spectacle also featured a surprise appearance by Simone Biles, who played a pivotal role in the handover of the Olympic emblem from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The banner was then presented to Cruise, who participated in a pre-filmed motorcycle sequence that culminated with him soaring above Los Angeles in a breathtaking skydiving exhibition.