In an unusual scene, an uninvited guest briefly became the most talked-about participant at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday when a large dog ran onto the course during qualifying for the women’s cross-country team free sprint.
The two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, identified as “Nazghul"- a nod to the villains from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- bounded onto the snow-covered track in Tesero as athletes raced toward the finish line.
Despite lacking skis or accreditation, the energetic canine gamely sprinted alongside competitors, even crossing the finish line ahead of some skiers before officials were able to intervene. Footage from the broadcast showed the happy-looking pup running behind two skiers, with the crowd cheering as it crossed the finish line. The dog was then shown sniffing at the competition, with skiers looking somewhat confused by their new rival.
#DeportesUn competidor inesperado en los#MilanoCortinaOlympics2026.
🐺 Un perro llamado Nazgul se escapó de su hogar e irrumpió en la recta final de una prueba de esquí de fondo, incluso cruzó la línea de meta antes de que los oficiales pudieran retirarlo.pic.twitter.com/obKtHOY8x1
— El Clarín (@SVElClarin)February 18, 2026
After crossing the line, Nazghul wandered through the finish area, briefly approaching athletes as they completed their runs.
Greek skier Konstantina Charalampidou said that she suddenly found herself sharing the spotlight.
“I became famous with a dog that came across the finish line, and everyone wants to interview me now. He was chasing the camera that goes up and down the finish line. He was cute but not aggressive. I wanted to pet him, but I didn’t have the time and I couldn’t find him afterwards," she told ESPN Sports.
Croatian skier Tena Hadzic admitted the encounter was unsettling in the moment.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
