TESERO, Italy – The 2026 Winter Olympics witnessed an unexpected competitor join the fray during the women’s team sprint cross-country skiing event on . A Czechoslovakian wolfdog, initially mistaken for a husky, captivated the crowd and briefly raced alongside the athletes, adding a surreal twist to the qualifying round in Tesero.
The canine interloper entered the course near the finish line, drawing gasps and cheers from spectators. As Croatia’s Tena Hadzic and Argentina’s Nahiara Diaz Gonzalez battled for position, the dog joined them in a final sprint, crossing the finish line to a roar of applause. The moment was captured by timekeepers and even the infra-red camera, providing a unique photo finish.
“I was like, ‘am I hallucinating?’” Hadzic recounted, expressing her initial surprise and concern. “I don’t know what I should do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me.” Despite her apprehension, the dog appeared friendly, sniffing the skiers after crossing the line.
Commentators were equally astonished. Posy Musgrave of TNT Sports remarked, “We had a bonus competitor on the course there, I think there was a dog in the background – there we go!” Ian Woods added, playfully noting, “It certainly looks like a wolf!”
The dog, later identified as Nazgul, a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, is owned by someone connected to an event official, according to reports. The owner explained to NPR that Nazgul was likely seeking attention, having been “crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving — and I think he just wanted to follow us.”
While the incident caused a momentary disruption, it didn’t significantly impact the race results, as the medal contenders had already finished. However, Hadzic suggested the unexpected appearance may have cost her “some seconds.”
The scene quickly went viral, with a video posted by NBC Olympics & Paralympics garnering widespread attention. However, a post from the official Olympic X account documenting the event was later quietly deleted, sparking some discussion online.
The Sporting News described the four-legged competitor as having “seen a final straightaway and finished strong,” highlighting the lighthearted nature of the event. The incident prompted calls for a team photo including the canine racer and its potential relay teammates elsewhere on the course.
This wasn’t the first instance of a dog making an unexpected appearance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. A similar incident occurred in the alpine skiing final, where a dog ran onto the course, causing chaos and excitement. A TikTok video documented the canine’s slalom run, further amplifying the trend of animal appearances at the games.
The unexpected intrusion of Nazgul into the cross-country skiing event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of live sports and the enduring appeal of animal antics. While officials eventually secured the dog, the moment provided a memorable and amusing interlude for athletes and spectators alike, injecting a dose of levity into the high-stakes competition.
The incident also raises questions about security protocols at the Olympic venues, though officials have not yet commented on any potential changes. For now, the story of Nazgul remains a charming anecdote from the 2026 Winter Olympics, a testament to the power of a determined dog and a captivated audience.
