A dog delighted sports fans Wednesday when he was an unexpected competitor at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
It happened during the team sprint qualification in women’s cross-country skiing, when a dog dashed onto the course and followed two skiers across the finish line.
NBC’s coverage explained that he had “zoomed with two skiers across the finish line. The good boy’s sprint was caught by the photo finish camera.”
The 2-year-old pooch, named “Nazgul” — familiar to Lord of the Rings fans as the Ringwraiths bound as servants to Sauron — had escaped his doghouse at a nearby bed and breakfast, NPR reported. Race officials were able to collar him and return him home unharmed.
The outlet spoke with the owners of the dog, who are related to an event official.
They described him as “stubborn, but very sweet,” and clarified that he is a Czechoslovakian wolfdog.
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“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving — and I think he just wanted to follow us,” the owner, whose identity was not revealed due to media scrutiny, said. “He always looks for people.”
Twelve days into this year’s Olympics, the canine cameo isn’t the only surprising thing that’s happened.
In another unscripted moment that delighted viewers, the boyfriend of U.S. skier Breezy Johnson proposed to her in the moments after her final competition.
While the gold medalist had crashed in the women’s super-G, she left the race and gathered with others who had competed at the finish line afterward.
Boyfriend Connor Watkins then dropped to one knee and pulled out a ring for her, before asking Johnson to marry him.
“Breezy Noble Johnson, you have worked so hard and achieved so much,” said Watkins, whose words were caught on television cameras. “And yet you still find the time to love me, to make me feel special, and most importantly, you help me love myself.”
He said that, “now that I know what that feels like, there’s only one way that I want to spend the rest of my life — and that is by your side.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics continue through Feb. 22. Watch on NBC and Peacock.