Nazgul’s owners detail wolfdog’s escape before viral Olympic cross-country race cameo

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An unexpected four-legged guest made an appearance at the finish line of Wednesday’s women’s team sprint cross-country race at theMilan Cortina Olympics.

As the final racers neared the finish, a dog darted onto the course and crossed the line with them, delighting the crowd.The Czechoslovakianwolfdog named Nazgullingered momentarily after entering the track and only took off toward the finish line once it noticed the racers.

Nazgul’s owners, later revealed as the Varesco family, are related to an event official, according to NPR. 

Nazgul the dog

Nazgul the dog who gatecrashed the Nordic Combined Team Sprint, Cross-Country at the Milan Cortina Olympics, pictured at his home in Tesero, Italy on Feb.20, 2026.(Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach)

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“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving — and I think he just wanted to follow us,” one of the ownerstold NPRearlier this week.“He always looks for people.”

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Alice Varesco recalled the chaotic moment.“We were on the train to Anterselva to watch the biathlon,”Varesco told Reuters.“We were three hours from home when friends started sending us videos.That was the panic moment.We realized we could not do anything.”

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At first, some spectators likely mistook the silver-gray Nazgul for a wolf.An official photo finish later revealed the truth to Alice and Ernesto Varesco.

Dog wanders onto course

A dog wanders on the ski trail during the women’s team cross-country free sprint qualification event of the Winter Olympics at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Lago di Tesero, Val di Fiemme, Italy.Feb.18, 2026.(Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)

“Concern, for sure,” Alice said of her first reaction.“It was with us the whole day actually.Even after they told us he was safe, we kept thinking about what could have gone wrong.”

It marked the first known time Nazgul escaped the house on his own.The Varescos said he likely didn’t want to be left behind while they attended the biathlon and repeatedly hit a lever that opened the door.

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“He wanted to look for us I think because he’s used… to going in that direction with us when we go for a walk,” Alice said.“He likes to stay with his crew.”

Dog on the course

In this image taken from video provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), a dog runs onto the track near the finish during the heats of the women’s cross-country skiing team sprint free at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Tesero, Italy.Feb.18, 2026.(Olympic Broadcasting Services via AP)

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Nazgul’s surprise appearance did not appear to have any major effect on thesporting eventitself as the top medal contenders had already crossed the finish line.

Officials caught Nazgul inside the venue, and he was home within half an hour.

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While the surprise appearance on the track did not have a major impact on the race, it did at least briefly impact one competitor’s mental state.“I was like, ‘Am I hallucinating?'” Croatian skier Tena Hadzic said, per NPR.“I don’t know what I should do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me.”

� Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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