An unexpected guest made an appearance during the 2026 Winter Olympics cross-country skiing qualifiers. A dog wandered onto the course in Italy, briefly engaging with competitors from Argentina and Croatia as they neared the finish line.
The four-legged interloper was observed sniffing an Argentine competitor at the finish line. Online, viewers expressed amusement, with many rooting for the dog's unexpected participation.
The dog, named Nazgul, is a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog that reportedly ran away from home. Its owner described Nazgul as social and harmless.
Athletes shared their reactions to the unusual encounter. Argentina's Nahiara Diaz Gonzales noted the dog's presence but focused on completing her race, calling it "weird" but "so cute." Croatia's Tena Hadzia initially mistook the dog for a wolf and feared it might bite, highlighting the potential disruption if such an incident occurred in a medal race.
Greece's Konstantina Charalampido found the dog well-behaved and a welcome distraction, humorously stating the dog made her "famous."