Wolfdog Nazgul Crashes Olympic Ski Race, Steals Hearts

When Olympic athletes crossed the finish line at Wednesday's women's team sprint in Tesero, they had an unexpected competitor: a wolfdog with perfect timing and zero training.

Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, crashed the Olympic cross-country skiing race and made a beeline for the finish line. The crowd went wild as he sprinted alongside the final athletes, his tail presumably wagging all the way.

His owners, who are related to an event official, discovered their adventurous pup had staged an escape mission. "He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving, and I think he just wanted to follow us," they told NPR.

Nazgul initially paused when he reached the course, taking in the scene like any first-time Olympian would. But once he spotted the racers, instinct kicked in and he joined the race.

The timekeepers even captured an official photo of the furry gate-crasher crossing the finish line. Luckily, all the medal contenders had already finished, so Nazgul's surprise cameo didn't affect the official results.

Croatian skier Tena Hadzic admitted the moment threw her off. "I was like, 'Am I hallucinating?'" she said, adding that she worried he might bite her.

Hadzic estimated she lost a few seconds but laughed it off since she wasn't competing for medals anyway. The surprise visitor clearly left a bigger impression than any time penalty could.

Sunny's Take

In a world of perfectly choreographed Olympic moments, sometimes the best memories come from the unscripted ones. Nazgul reminded everyone watching that joy doesn't always follow the rules or stay in its lane.

His owners explained that he "always looks for people," which makes his choice to join the race even sweeter. He didn't want to be left behind, he wanted to be part of the action.

The Olympics showcase human achievement at its peak, but Nazgul proved that connection and companionship matter just as much as competition.

One determined wolfdog turned a routine qualifying heat into a viral moment that brought smiles across the globe, proving that sometimes the best athletes are the ones who weren't invited.