Local Dog Steals the Show at Olympics by Chasing Camera, Becomes Instant Star

A local dog made an unexpected cameo during the women’s cross-country free sprint qualification at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. This playful pup chased after athletes, a remote-controlled camera, and even managed to photobomb a finish line shot before officials caught up with him.

On Wednesday morning, the true star of the Winter Olympics wasn’t an elite athlete but rather a spirited dog. The two-year-old wolfdog, named Nazgul, escaped from his nearby home and made a splash at the qualifying event on February 18, quickly capturing the internet’s attention. Viral clips show Nazgul sprinting alongside skiers, delighting the crowd as he crossed the finish line and playfully pursued a broadcast camera.

Local officials swiftly rounded up Nazgul without any issues and returned him to his home at a nearby bed-and-breakfast.

“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving—and I think he just wanted to follow us,” his owner shared. “He always looks for people.” The owner described the Czechoslovakian wolfdog as “stubborn, but very sweet.”

“I was like, ‘Am I hallucinating?’” said Tena Hadzic, a 21-year-old Croatian skier who shared the track with Nazgul. “I didn’t know what to do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me.”

Following his eventful appearance, Nazgul quickly gained fame online, with clips of his antics spreading across various platforms. Unfortunately, due to regional restrictions, much of the media related to the event and the dog is difficult to access. However, I can still share this photo of Nazgul as he dashed across the finish line, captured by the OMEGA finish camera.