TESERO: A two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul unexpectedly became the star of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after escaping from his home and running onto the cross-country course during a biathlon event. The incident left spectators stunned and his owners, the Varesco family, in a state of panic.
The Unexpected Race Intruder
On Wednesday, the Varescos had left Nazgul locked in his kennel while they traveled to watch the biathlon in Anterselva. Alice Varesco told Reuters that they were “three hours from home when friends started sending us videos. That was the panic moment. We realised we could not do anything.”
For a few surreal seconds, spectators reportedly thought a wolf had wandered onto the course. Instead, it was Nazgul, a lean, silver-grey wolfdog with pricked ears, instinctively chasing the skiers down the finishing straight. The dog even appeared in an official photo finish, which ultimately helped the family confirm it was their pet.
How Nazgul Escaped
Nazgul had never left the house on his own before. The Varescos suspect that, frustrated at being left behind, he may have nudged a lever repeatedly until the door gave way. “He wanted to look for us, I think, because he’s used to going in that direction with us when we walk. He likes to stay with his crew,” Alice said.
The photo finish of the dog at the Winter Olympics is WONDERFUL
So we’re doing ‘animals in unexpected places’ please, dogs in playgrounds, raccoons on the tube, let me know for the show! 📻 pic.twitter.com/gjRknfdG7m— Sarah Champion (@SarahChampion) February 19, 2026
Quick Response and Global Attention
Race officials reacted quickly, and the race director managed to catch Nazgul inside the venue. Within half an hour, he was safely returned home. Footage of the incident quickly went viral, with the family receiving countless videos and photos from around the world. “At a certain point we just closed the phone because it was impossible,” Alice said, noting that they wanted to focus on watching the event with their children.
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal pic.twitter.com/BQoerJXX9j
— WeRateDogs (@dog_rates) February 18, 2026
Safety Measures and Relief
The Varescos have since reinforced the security around Nazgul’s kennel to prevent a repeat during the upcoming 50-kilometre races. Despite the chaos, Alice said she was relieved that the incident caused no injury or major disruption. “We did not think this could be possible, but generally the reaction was people loved him,” she said.
Nazgul’s unexpected dash alongside Olympic skiers turned him into an overnight sensation, delighting spectators while reminding everyone of the unpredictable charm of animals.
