Four-Legged Spectator Steals the Show at Winter Olympics Cross-Country Skiing Qualifiers
A canine caper unfolded at the Winter Olympics recently, as a spirited Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul gatecrashed the women’s team cross-country skiing qualifying round, much to the surprise of competitors and spectators alike. The two-year-old hound’s unexpected dash across the finish line was broadcast live, leaving his owner, Alice Varesco, utterly astonished.
Alice, a 35-year-old former Olympic skier now working in trade marketing, was watching the event unfold on television when she spotted the furry interloper. She recounted her disbelief, stating she “could hardly believe her eyes” as Nazgul barrelled across the snow-covered course.
Alice and her husband Enrico, who reside a stone’s throw from the Lake Tesero course, had believed Nazgul was safely secured in his kennel at their flat. They had left him there before heading out to watch the biathlon, confident he couldn’t possibly escape. However, their assumptions were soon shattered when friends began bombarding her phone with video clips of the unexpected guest. It was then she realised the dog charging across the track was, in fact, her “stubborn, but very sweet” Czechoslovakian wolfdog.
“I thought it was impossible,” Alice admitted. “We had left him in his kennel and the door was closed, so I couldn’t understand how it could be him.”
Upon closer inspection of the footage, Alice recognised Nazgul’s distinctive markings. A quick call to neighbours confirmed her worst fears: the kennel was indeed empty, and the front door of their flat had been left ajar.
Race officials eventually managed to apprehend the adventurous canine, leading him away from the track to a chorus of applause from the captivated crowd. But Nazgul’s bid for Olympic glory wasn’t quite over. Shortly after being removed from the course, he managed to wriggle free once more, briefly evading his handler before being secured for a second time.
“I was so embarrassed,” Alice confessed. “When they told me he had escaped again after they caught him, I just thought, ‘Oh no, not again.’”
Despite the embarrassment, Alice noted that the organisers were understanding and relieved that no serious incidents occurred. Nazgul was swiftly reunited with his owners after his second escape. “This is the first time he’s ever done something like this, so we’ll definitely have to keep a much closer eye on him,” she added.
The sight of Nazgul playfully chasing skiers from Croatia and Greece as they approached the finish line became an instant sensation, with footage circulating globally, eliciting both amusement and concern.
Competitor Reactions: From Startled to Amused
While Nazgul’s appearance brought a smile to many faces, not everyone was entirely thrilled. Croatian skier Tena Hadzic admitted to being startled by the dog’s sudden and imposing presence.
“At first I thought it was a wolf and that I was hallucinating because of the strenuous race,” Hadzic said. “It was extremely large and, as I ran past it, I was afraid it might bite me.” She expressed concerns about the safety implications of such an incident, stating, “The fact he even made it onto the track isn’t good. For me it’s no 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.”
In contrast, Greek skier Konstantina Charalampidou, who finished last in the race, adopted a more lighthearted perspective. “Luckily he was very well behaved,” she remarked. “He followed the camera on the finishing straight, was cute and thankfully didn’t disrupt the race.” Charalampidou even found a silver lining in the canine interruption, humourously noting, “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.”
A Determined Escape Artist
Alice believes Nazgul’s daring escape was meticulously planned, or at least executed with canine ingenuity. She theorises that Nazgul managed to unlatch his kennel door before making his way to the front door of their apartment, which had inadvertently been left unlocked.
“He must have pulled down the handle with his paw, walked down the stairs and somehow made his way to the track,” she explained. The terrifying realisation of her dog’s adventure left Alice deeply concerned.
“He’s friendly, social and playful, but I was worried he might be confused by the crowds and react badly. Something could have gone wrong,” she admitted, her voice laced with residual fear. “The race director managed to get hold of him and take him away – but that’s when he escaped again.”
Adding a touch of Olympic flair to Nazgul’s escapade, the dog was even awarded an official photo finish time by Swiss timekeeper Omega as he crossed the line. His name, Nazgul, is inspired by the Ringwraiths from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” a literary passion shared by Alice and Enrico. Alice revealed that while Enrico chose the name, she had initially favoured “Athos,” after one of “The Three Musketeers.”
“He’s a real wilderness dog and that’s the kind of people we are,” Alice said, describing their shared love for the outdoors. “We love the outdoors and the mountains, and he loves going on long walks with us.” She acknowledged that raising a Czechoslovakian wolfdog requires significant effort, particularly during their first year, but praised Nazgul’s inherently social and friendly nature.
“We apologised to the organisers because we knew things could have gone wrong, but they were just relieved nothing serious happened,” Alice concluded, expressing gratitude for the understanding shown by the event officials. Nazgul’s unexpected Olympic debut has certainly left a lasting, albeit furry, impression on the Winter Games.
