Simone Biles Carries the Olympic Flag During Paris Closing Ceremony as Olympics Transition to Los Angeles

Mar. 15, 2025

Simone Biles with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.Photo:FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

Simone Bilesis leaving the 2024 Paris Olympics on a high note.

The 27-year-old gymnast, who is taking home three gold medals and one silver, had the honor of carrying the Olympic flag during the Sunday, Aug. 11 closing ceremony.

Biles walked out onto the stage at the Stade de France and joined Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, as musician H.E.R. performed the American national anthem. The song led into the evening’s highly-anticipated momentwhen Tom Cruise soared into the crowd.

Biles was also noticeably wearing herprecautionary booton her foot after revealing to NBC on Aug. 5 that she was dealing with “a little bit of soreness” in her calf.

Simone Biles.Carl Recine/Getty Images

Carl Recine/Getty Images

In the video, Cruise sped down the streets of Paris on the motorcycle, passing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, and cruised onto a waiting airplane.

The flag then goes to Olympic cyclist Kate Courtney, former track star Michael Johnson and skateboarder Jagger Eaton. Finally, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Billie Eilish put on a performance on Venice Beach to wrap up the transition to L.A.

source: people.com