It is actually very exquisite to witness a big-screen hero like Tom Cruise, who perennially dangles off airplanes & skyscrapers, become an awestruck spectator of Olympians and the magic of the Olympic Games. Recently, Cruise was spotted cheering for the artistic gymnast Simone Biles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Needless to say, Cruise’s presence was a nod to his genuine admiration for athletes like those he watched with the intensity of someone who understands the gravity of the Olympic stage.
After all, just last year, this ambassador of action was so taken by Matt Shirvington—an Olympian turned interviewer—that he hit the pause button on promoting his cinematic escapade to celebrate Shirvington’s athletic achievements. In case you are not familiar, Shirvington is a former Australian athlete, who won the national sprint title in the 100 meters from 1998 to 2002.
Tom Cruise’s Heartwarming Encounter with a Former Olympian in a Sweet Interview
When it comes to celebrities, it’s always interesting to see what their hidden talents and interests are outside of their glamorous Hollywood lives. Tom Cruise, known for his action-packed roles in films like Mission: Impossible, has shown his admiration for athletes, particularly Olympians.
We recently saw the actor attend the Paris Olympics to watch the talented Simone Biles compete in the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification (Washington Post). This isn’t the first time Cruise has shown his love for athletes.
In a heartwarming interview with former Olympian Matt Shirvington, the actor was wholeheartedly excited to learn about the latter’s Olympic background (via YouTube).
Shirvington, a sprinter who participated in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, shared his experience with Cruise during the interview.
Tom, I’ve gotta be honest with you. As a kid growing up, I was a sprinter and went to the Olympic games.
As an athlete all his life, Cruise, who has a net worth of $600 million (Celebrity Net Worth), expressed his respect for Shirvington and even complimented his gait. In the interview, Cruise mentioned how he has always been involved in sports like gymnastics and sprinting since he was a child.
Cruise even joked about being the kid who would sprint through puddles with new sneakers:
I’m just been an athlete my whole life gymnastics and I’d love to Sprint since I came out running you know what I mean I was like that little kid that was just I get a new pair of sneakers and you just got to hit every puddle and you’re sprinting and I’ve had not a lot of training you know..
The wholesome interaction between Cruise and Shirvington left fans in awe of Cruise’s down-to-earth nature and his willingness to learn and improve, even at the peak of his career. Let’s hear some of the fans’ comments:
It’s refreshing to see a superstar like Tom Cruise humbly admire and learn from athletes, showcasing his genuine passion for sports.
Olympics 2024: Tom Cruise, Women’s Gymnastics, and the Mission: Impossible Soundtrack
Even though Tom Cruise was not the main attraction when he watched Simone Biles and the American women’s gymnastics team compete on July 28 at the Bercy Arena in Paris, the actor still attracted a lot of attention (see PEOPLE).
Along with Nick Jonas, Anna Wintour, and Ariana Grande, Tom Cruise was among the many famous people present at the artistic gymnastics qualifying round. As the latter moved around the arena and posed for selfies with numerous people from their seats, Cruise drew a throng of admirers.
He was also seen smiling on the jumbotron, seemingly in a good mood, as the Mission: Impossible theme song began to play in the arena.
In March, he was seen spending a significant amount of time filming the eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise in the United Kingdom (The Sun).
The upcoming movie, which is the eighth entry in the Mission: Impossible film series and sequel to Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), is scheduled for release on May 23, 2025.
