An unusual incident occurred during Wednesday's women's team sprint qualifications in cross-country skiing. A dog entered the course at Lago di Tesero, followed the athletes, and crossed the finish line ahead of them. The animal turned out to be a two-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog named Nazgul, belonging to the owners of a nearby guesthouse. While the situation delighted fans and social media, it did not negatively affect the official competition results.

Four-Legged Intruder at the Finish Line

A Czechoslovakian Wolfdog named Nazgul ran onto the cross-country skiing course during Olympic qualifications at Lago di Tesero.

Reaction of Athletes and Fans

Skiers from Greece and Croatia calmly accepted the animal's presence, which showed no aggression and became a crowd favorite.

Escape from a Nearby Hotel

The animal escaped from a nearby guesthouse, and its owner identified her dog after seeing him in the live broadcast.

During the Winter Olympics at the Lago di Tesero venue, an event occurred that instantly became a social media sensation. In the midst of the women's team sprint qualifications in cross-country skiing, a dog unexpectedly ran onto the final straight of the course. The animal accompanied the athletes for several dozen meters, including Croatian representative Tena Hadzic and Greek skier Konstantina Charalampidou, ultimately overtaking them right at the finish line. Fans gathered at the stadium reacted enthusiastically to this extra display of determination from the four-legged runner. The courses at Lago di Tesero have a long history, having hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1991, 2003, and 2013, but such a high-profile incident involving local fauna during a competition of this caliber had never been recorded before.It was quickly established that the "marathon runner" was a two-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog named Nazgul, whose name references the prose of J.R.R. Tolkien. The dog's owner recognized him while watching the broadcast on television. As it turned out, Nazgul had escaped from a nearby B&B and decided to join the sporting competition. Security services and organizers of Milano Cortina 2026 quickly responded to the animal's presence. The dog was safely captured shortly after finishing its run and returned to its owners. The athletes, though surprised, spoke of the incident with a smile, emphasizing the gentle nature of the unexpected rival. „He was adorable and not aggressive at all, so everything was fine. After crossing the finish line, he just stayed there and enjoyed the moment.” — Konstantina Charalampidou2 years — the age of the dog Nazgul, who became an Olympic starAlthough the dog's presence on the team sprint course could have posed a safety risk, this time it ended merely as a charming episode. This incident recalled memories of similar past situations when animals appeared at sporting venues, though it rarely happens at such a crucial moment as the final straight of an Olympic final. The IOC did not issue an official warning, and the situation was deemed a harmless episode that added color to the Italian Games.

Mentioned People

  • Tena Hadzic — Croatian cross-country skier, whom the dog accompanied on the final straight.
  • Konstantina Charalampidou — Greek cross-country skier participating in the team sprint during the incident.