A two-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog named Nazgul wandered onto the cross-country ski course during the women's team sprint qualification at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, racing alongside athletes to the finish line. The incident, captured on official cameras, turned the dog into a viral sensation without significantly affecting the race results. Sweden's Jonna Sundling won gold in the event.
The unexpected intrusion occurred on February 18, 2026, at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, during the heats of the women's team cross-country free sprint. As elite skiers, including Croatia's Tena Hadzic, approached the final straightaway, Nazgul breached security and sprinted parallel to the competitors, chasing the broadcast camera along the finish line.
Hadzic, 21, described the moment to reporters: "I was like, 'Am I hallucinating?' At first, I thought it was a wolf because of the size. I didn't know if he would bite me, but he just wanted to run." The dog's presence cost Hadzic a few seconds but did not alter the qualification standings, as top contenders had already completed their runs.
Race officials and volunteers quickly corralled Nazgul after he crossed the finish line, triggering the sensors. The dog had escaped from a nearby bed-and-breakfast, where his owners—related to a local event official—had left earlier to attend a biathlon race. One owner explained: "He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving – and I think he just wanted to follow us. He always looks for people."
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed is noted for its endurance and wolf-like appearance, suiting the snowy Olympic terrain. Omega, the Games' timing partner, released a photo-finish image of Nazgul at 40,000 frames per second, capturing his sprint. Sweden's Jonna Sundling, who claimed gold, remarked that the dog seemed eager to join athletes in the media zone afterward.
The incident coincided with Norwegian skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo securing his record 10th Olympic gold and fifth at Milan Cortina. Online, fans dubbed Nazgul the unofficial mascot, with social media accounts like WeRateDogs praising him: "14/10 someone get him a medal."
