Merci, Paris.allez, LA

Cruise joins GB medal heroes flying flags at showstopper

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

TOM Cruise performed a breathtaking leap from the top of the Stade de France as the Olympics staged a showstopping finale last night.

The Mission: Impossible star, 62, plunged 35 metres from the roof on a rope into the arena.

Once safely on the stadium floor, he drove off on a motorbike, carrying the US flag. It was a classic conclusion to the greatest show on earth.

Team GB's flagbearers were two of our gold medallists who lit up the Games. Trampolinist Bryony Page and triathlon star Alex Yee smiled as they stepped into the arena, proud to have played their part in the spectacle.

Bryony, 33, of Crewe, Cheshire, who is retiring after the Games to join the Cirque du Soleil as an acrobat, and Alex, 26, from Lewisham, South East London, walked with flagbearers from 205 delegations representing countries around the world.

They were soon joined by our team, dressed in Ben Sherman floral shirts, dancing and waving to the crowd.

Around 9,000 athletes flooded the arena after French President Emmanuel Macron had thanked Thomas Bach, the retiring International Olympic Committee President.

The French team, in white tracksuits, were given the biggest cheer of the night as they entered the Stade de France, many running to the 71,500 spectators in the crowd. And many athletes took the opportunity to show off their medals to the cameras.