Nazgul The Wolfdog Who Crashed The Olympic Course Is Back Home — And His Owners Say It Won’t Happen Again

Nazgul, the wolfdog who stunned spectators by bursting onto the Olympic cross-country course, is now safely back at home — and his owners insist there will be no repeat appearance at any upcoming race.

The two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog unexpectedly became one of the most talked-about moments of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after slipping away from his home in Tesero and charging onto the course during a sprint event. For a brief, surreal stretch, many in the crowd believed an actual wolf had wandered into the competition. Instead, it was Nazgul sprinting down the finishing straight beside elite skiers.

His owners, Alice and Ernesto Varesco, were not even in Tesero at the time. They were traveling by train to Anterselva for the biathlon when friends started sending urgent messages and video clips. “That was the panic moment,” Alice Varesco told Reuters. “We realised we could not do anything.”

Nazgul had been secured inside his kennel before they left. The family suspects he may have persistently pushed at a lever until it finally gave way, allowing him to open the door and head toward the route he typically walks with them. “He likes to stay with his crew,” Alice explained, suggesting he may simply have been searching for his family.

Officials moved quickly once he entered the venue. The race director managed to catch Nazgul, and relatives brought him home within half an hour. Fortunately, no competitors were harmed, and the event continued without major disruption.

By later that day, footage of Nazgul’s surprise run had spread worldwide. While the viral attention was intense, the Varesco family said their greatest relief was knowing their dog was unharmed.

With the 50-kilometer races scheduled for the weekend, the family has strengthened security around Nazgul’s kennel. Rather than attending in person, they plan to watch from their balcony at home — keeping a close eye on their now-famous companion.

“We did not think this could happen,” Alice said. “But we’re thankful nothing bad occurred, and in the end, everyone was smiling.”