Overview
- During the women's team sprint qualifying in Tesero on Feb. 18, a dog ran onto the course, sprinted behind two skiers, and crossed the finish line to cheers.
- The animal was identified as Nazgul, a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog whose owners said he escaped from their nearby lodging to follow them.
- Organizers and venue staff promptly collared the dog and returned him to his owners, noting the episode did not interrupt competition and reaffirming venue no‑pets rules.
- Omega’s photo‑finish camera captured Nazgul’s line crossing as broadcasters and official Olympic accounts shared the footage, propelling the moment viral online.
- Athletes offered mixed reactions, with Croatia’s Tena Hadzic saying the surprise likely cost her a few seconds and warning a similar intrusion in a final could affect medals.