Competitors from every country have shown up in Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina – and so have competitors of every species! In a bid for Olympic glory, the Canine Delegation sent their best cross-country four-legged athlete to take part in the Olympic Games.
On February 18 at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, a dog joined the course with a race in progress. Here’s what to know about this friendly cross-species encounter during the cross-country competition.
The Dog Made His Olympic Bid By Joining the Race in Progress
GettyA dog wanders on the ski trail during the women’s team cross country free sprint qualification event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Lago di Tesero
As a race was underway at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, a dog decided to jump in for his chance at winning a gold medal. The two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul became an instant fan favorite among spectators, though his presence in the race startled several of the athletes as they suddenly had to navigate not only around the course, but around Nazgul as well!
At the time of Nazgul’s appearance on the course, many skiers had already crossed the finish line. But some competitors were still on their way down the track. Tena Hadzic of Croatia told NPR, “I was like, ‘Am I hallucinating?’” and then revealed that Nazgul’s presence along her raceway cost her additional seconds to her overall qualifying race time. However, Hadzic had a great attitude about the canine’s participation in the event and revealed that since she isn’t competing for the podium, then it isn’t a very big deal for her to lose a handful of seconds.
Nazgul Crossed the Finish Line in His Olympic Debut
GettyA dog wanders on the ski trail during the women’s team cross country free sprint qualification event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Lago di Tesero
Both the crowd and social media lit up with excitement over the canine entry into the cross-country event, especially the moment when Nazgul crossed the finish line. Video of Nazgul’s Olympic finish was posted online by TikTok user @jokkmok and can be viewed here.
Nazgul turned out to be a local pet belonging to a bed and breakfast near the Olympic cross-country ski stadium. His owner spoke with NPR and said, “He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving – and I think he just wanted to follow us. He always looks for people.”
The two-year-old pup found plenty of people on his jaunt down the snowy race course alongside competitors, though he didn’t secure a top place finish and his hopes for gold were dashed when race organizers were able to safely capture him and usher him off of the track.
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