Philenews

The Wolfhound Who Became… an Olympian: Invaded a Ski Track and Ran Behind Athletes

Published February 19, 2026, 09:18
The Wolfhound Who Became… an Olympian: Invaded a Ski Track and Ran Behind Athletes

An unexpected but particularly charming incident occurred on Wednesday morning (18/2) during a women's ski race at the Winter Olympics in Italy, causing a momentary interruption and smiles from athletes and spectators. The sun was shining in the Italian Alps, but a dog resembling a wolf had other ideas. As seen in a video that went viral on social media, the dog invaded the track and began running with its tongue out behind two female skiers just before they crossed the finish line. Croatian athlete Tena Hadžić, behind whom the dog ran, described the moment as a possible hallucination, but handled the incident calmly. Although it did not affect the outcome of the race, she warned that in a final race it could have serious consequences. The dog was timed as if it had participated in the race, adding a funny touch to the incident. The owners of Nazgul said the dog was likely looking for companionship, as it had been left alone at the hotel. The incident went viral on social media, causing laughter and excitement.