The Winter Olympics have already delivered their usual mix of breathtaking triumphs and heartbreaking near-misses as the world’s top athletes compete for gold in Italy, but on Wednesday morning, an unexpected four-legged intruder added a fresh dose of entertainment and intrigue to the tournament.
The spectacle occurred during the women’s team cross country qualifiers in Tesero, when a wolf-like dog appeared on the track and began chasing after some of the contestants during their event.
Footage showed the lively hound seemingly excited by the camera and chasing after it.
Two passing skiers then appeared to catch its eye, causing it to run after the pair from Croatia and Greece as they crossed the finish line, much to the entertainment of those watching on from the sidelines.
A couple of the athletes reacted to the charismatic canine’s presence on the course after the race, with top-qualifier Swede Jonna Sundling saying she thought ‘it was cute’ as she walked past the press zone.
Her competitor, Norwegian Astrid Oyre Slind, who finished in fifth place, jokingly added: ‘A dog is my least problem, a Swede is my biggest.’
An unexpected four-legged intruder added a fresh dose of entertainment and intrigue to the tournament on Wednesday morning during the women’s team cross country race
The dog interrupted the race – with one commentator calling it a potential ‘disaster’
One athlete had a close encounter with the pooch on the slopes in Italy
Others were more alarmed by the dog’s sudden introduction, with Croatia’s Tena Hadzic saying she feared it would bite her.
Hadzic said: ‘At first I thought it was a wolf, and that I was hallucinating because of the strenuous race. It was extremely large, and as I ran past it, I was afraid it might bite me.
‘The fact that he even made it onto the track isn’t good. For me, it’s not a big deal since I’m not competing for a medal. But if that had happened in the final, where medals are at stake, it could have been dangerous.’
Last-placed Greece contestant Konstantina Charalampidou shared a more optimistic outlook, saying: ‘Luckily, he was very well-behaved. He followed the camera on the finishing straight, was cute, and thankfully didn’t disrupt the race.
‘It was funny. He made me forget about the race, because it wasn’t good. Thanks to him, I’m famous now, so I have to thank him.’
Meanwhile cross-country skiing expert Fredrik Aukland said that the dog’s interference ‘could have been a disaster’.
The two-year-old dog’s owner came forward after the race, revealing that his name is ‘Nazgul’ and suggesting he had escaped from their home.
‘He just disappeared, ran away from home. He is a very kind dog. Very stubborn, very sweet and very social. He always seeks contact with people. He doesn’t hurt people,’ he told Norwegian outlet VG.
Omega officially recorded a photofinish of Nazgul crossing the line
A wolf-like dog appeared on the track and began chasing after some of the competitors
Nazgul, a Czech wolfhound, takes his name from the ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings.
Omega officially recorded a photofinish of Nazgul crossing the line.
Dogs have been a common fixture at this year’s Winter Olympics, with one seen sitting on the sidelines sporting a Team USA jersey watching the figure skating.
Earlier in the week, a video of a playful hound went viral after it interrupted the downhill ski race, slipping and sliding through the ice as it evaded its captor.
Spectators in the crowd and some of the athletes were pictured sporting wide grins as the dog ran a large portion of the course himself.
Perhaps the presence of Snoop Dogg at this year’s event has stirred up a little extra excitement among the local canines.