A stray dog named Nazgul joined skiers in the final stretch of the women's team sprint cross-country skiing qualification at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy. The 2-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog crossed the finish line alongside athletes, drawing cheers from spectators. The incident caused minimal disruption to the event on February 18.
During the women's team sprint free heats at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on February 18, 2026, a surprise entrant appeared on the course. Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, wandered onto the track near the finish line and ran with two elite skiers down the straightaway. The dog's sprint was captured by the photo finish camera, and spectators cheered as it crossed the line before venue officials restrained it.
The dog had escaped from its local owners during a nearby walk, according to officials. Its owner later explained to NPR that Nazgul "cried this morning more than usual because he saw us going, and, in my opinion, just wanted to follow us." The owner described the pet as someone who "always looks for people" and is "stubborn, but very sweet."
Croatian skier Tena Hadzic, 21, said she thought she was "hallucinating" when she spotted the dog, adding that it likely cost her "some seconds." However, she noted, "It's not that big deal, because I'm not fighting for medals or anything big." Swedish skier Maja Dahlkvist, who later won gold with partner Jonna Sundling, called the moment "something I had never seen before. It was quite strange."
The interruption had no significant impact on the qualifier race. The same day on the same course, Norwegian skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo secured his record 10th Olympic gold medal, his fifth at the Milan-Cortina Games. Clips of Nazgul's run spread quickly on social media, with users hailing the dog as an unofficial Olympic legend.
