Paws On The Olympic Podium! Czech Wolfdog Crashes Finish Line At Milano-Cortina | WATCH

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 16:40 IST

Nazgul, a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, unexpectedly raced onto the 2026 Winter Olympics cross-country course, crossing the finish line ahead of athletes.

The 2026 Winter Olympics delivered an unexpected “competitor" on Wednesday: a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul.

During a preliminary heat of the women’s cross-country skiing team sprint free, the dog sprinted onto the final stretch of the course and made a beeline for the finish line.

Broadcast cameras captured Nazgul eagerly trying to keep pace with the skiers before crossing the line himself, ahead of several athletes still catching their breath.

Organisers quickly intervened and returned the dog to its owners. No injuries were reported.

‘Am I Hallucinating?’

Some competitors admitted the moment was jarring.

“I was like, ‘Am I hallucinating?’" Croatian skier Tena Hadzic told NPR. “I don’t know what I should do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me."

Argentinian skier Nahiara Díaz González told CNN she barely noticed the canine cameo.

“He was super happy crossing the finish line. I was so focused on finishing the race [that] I didn’t look at the dog," she said. “It was just a fun experience… Luckily, it went well."

Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist, who ultimately won alongside teammate Jonna Sundling, added: “That was something I had never seen ever before. Kind of crazy."

How Did It Happen?

Nazgul’s owners later explained the dog followed them after they left home early that morning. Described as stubborn but friendly and drawn to people, the wolfdog simply found himself in the middle of Olympic history.

No medals. No bib. Just paws, snow, and a finish-line moment nobody saw coming.

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