Surprise Dog Joins Olympic Race
An unexpected four-legged visitor made an appearance at the finish line during the women’s team sprint cross-country race at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Wednesday.
As the final racers approached the finish line, a dog dashed onto the course and crossed along with them, bringing smiles to the crowd. The canine, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul, lingered for a bit before he spotted the racers and took off towards the finish.
It was later confirmed by sources that Nazgul belongs to the Valesko family, who have connections to individuals involved in the event.
“This morning he was whining more than usual because he saw us leaving, and I think he just wanted to come with us,” one of the owners shared. They mentioned that Nazgul has a habit of looking for people.
Alice Valesco recounted the moment, explaining how they were on the train to Anterselva for the biathlon when they received frantic messages. “We were three hours from home, and then friends started sending us videos. There was a wave of panic—we realized there was nothing we could do,” she said.
Initially, some spectators mistook Nazgul’s silver-gray coat for that of a wolf. The truth became clearer for Alice and Ernesto Valesco when official photos surfaced later.
“I was definitely worried,” Alice admitted about her initial reaction. “He had been with us all day, and even after hearing he was safe, we couldn’t help but think about what had happened.” This is reportedly the first time Nazgul escaped on his own. The Valescos suspect he might not have wanted to miss out on the biathlon event.
“He wanted to find us, probably because he’s used to walking in that direction with us,” Alice added. “He just loves being with his crew.”
Although Nazgul’s surprise entrance didn’t disrupt the top competitors, it did lead to an unusual moment for one athlete. Croatian skier Tena Hadzic reflected on the experience, saying, “I thought, ‘Am I hallucinating?'” She shared her confusion about how to react, fearing the dog might attack.
Despite the excitement, Nazgul was contained by officials and returned home within half an hour.
