US EditionA Loose Dog Makes an Olympic Cameo on the Cross-Country Ski Track in Milan-Cortina
Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, briefly ran the course during women’s team sprint qualifying and was safely returned after crossing the finish line, race officials said.
- During the women's cross-country skiing team sprint qualification at the Tesero Cross Country Stadium on February 18, 2026, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog trailed two skiers and crossed the finish line behind them.
- Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog owned by a local Olympic official, slipped away from its owner after being taken for a nearby walk near a bed-and-breakfast.
- Tena Hadzic said `I was like, 'Am I hallucinating?'` after seeing the dog, while on-course announcers joked `Anybody lost their dog?` and spectators cheered.
- Race officials secured the animal and returned it to its owner, and athletes warned the intruder could have affected medal outcomes if it appeared in finals, organizers said.
- The photo-finish camera captured the cameo and made it 'official', while broadcasters and outlets shared the lighthearted moment after Omega SA’s equipment recorded the dog crossing the line.
16 Articles
16 Articles
A very good dog interrupts women's Olympic ski race
A surprise four-legged guest briefly joined the action at the 2026 Winter Olympics during the women's cross-country skiing team sprint qualifying race on Wednesday, Feb. 18 — and quickly became the unofficial star of the event.As athletes from Croatia and Australia crossed the finish line, a dog suddenly wandered onto the course. The pup paused to glance toward the cameras before appearing to notice the skiers and sprinting toward the finish beh…
TESERO, Italy (AP) — A surprise participant in Wednesday’s action at the Milan Olympic Games Cortina had four legs and zero concern for race times.
An animal runaway becomes the star of the target photos in the Olympic Langlaufstadion. Now the owner's sister reveals how the dog suddenly turned out.
From Biathlon Blues celebrations to Shiffrin's toast after his sacre, to hockey collisions and the surprise appearance of a dog on the cross-country ski track, relive Wednesday's day in pictures.
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