Dog Gatecrashes Winter Olympics Race, Crosses Finish Line Alongside Skiers | Watch

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 22:31 IST

After crossing the line, Nazghul wandered through the finish area, briefly approaching athletes as they completed their runs.

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.

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.

“I was scared for a moment, because I don’t know what’s going to happen since it’s a dog," she told VG. “I didn’t know what to do."

Argentine athlete Nahiara Diaz Gonzalez echoed similar concerns but was relieved the situation ended safely.

“Everyone is talking about the dog, it’s famous now," she said. “I was trying to see what it was going to do because I didn’t want to crash into the dog. But luckily it went well."

Venue officials initially suspected a breach of the Games’ strict no-pets policy for spectators. The dog’s owner, however, told NPR that Nazghul is a “stubborn, but very sweet" animal.

“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving — and I think he just wanted to follow us," the owner told NPR. “He always looks for people."

(With inputs from agencies)

News viral Dog Gatecrashes Winter Olympics Race, Crosses Finish Line Alongside Skiers | Watch

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