Paris 2024 - Closing ceremony - Source: Getty — Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise receives the Olympic flag from Simone Biles of the USA at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

Simone Biles reveals her most 'nervous' moment at Paris Olympics meeting Tom Cruise and handing over the flag during the iconic closing ceremony

Modified Sep 05, 2024 08:40 GMT

Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles was recently invited to 'The Jimmy Fallon Show', where she revealed her most 'nervous' moment at the Paris Olympics: meeting Tom Cruise! The Hollywood superstar was present at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, as a representative of the organizers of the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics to be held in 2028.

Tom Cruise entered the Stade de France in his classic daredevil style and accepted the Olympic flag from Simone Biles, who was representing the USA at the closing ceremony.

Biles opened up about the meeting on The Jimmy Fallon Show, as she mentioned,

"....And I'm always tripping, falling down stairs. Like, bad for me. So actually, that's like, the most nervous I was for the whole entire Olympics. I was like, 'Okay, I have to hand the flag off. Like, don't mess it up. Don't mess it up.' I was terrified."

Biles also mentioned that Tom Cruise was really nice to her, and even met her mom. She also mentioned in jest that even if asked to repeat the stunt Tom Cruise performed at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, she "wouldn't do that!"

Simone Biles gave one of her best performances in Paris. She won three gold medals and a silver, making her the most decorated female American gymnast of all time, with 11 Olympic medals overall.

Simone Biles on competing for the USA at Los Angeles Olympics 2028

Karen Bass, mayor of Los Angeles, hands over the Olympic flag to Simone Biles at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

Even the host Jimmy Fallon couldn't resist asking if the American legend would be participating in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Biles responded in a cheeky tone,

"Everybody wants to know this question. I'm like, 'Can't I live?' "

However, when Fallon egged her on, Biles responded in a rather cryptic way. She said,

"First, I'm getting older. Like, 27 is a little bit old for a gymnast......Okay, so here's the thing. Like in real life, in gymnastics, like, aging like fine wine, okay. But, like, for a gymnast, old. But outside of gym, oh yeah, I'm young.......But like, in the gym, I'm old!"

Biles is 27 years old, and one of the oldest female gymnasts to have represented the USA at the Olympics in the last seven decades. By the LA Olympics, she would be a little over 31 years old. It's not that female gymnasts above 30 haven't participated, but it would be a daunting task for her.

The American legend has not openly denied the claims either. If she actually makes it to the LA Olympics, Biles would be one of the oldest American female gymnasts to represent the country. Gabby Douglas, her teammate from the Rio Olympics, has also announced her intentions to participate in LA. If both of them make it, Douglas would supersede Biles as the oldest female gymnast to represent the USA.