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Four-Legged Finisher Crashes Olympic Cross-Country Race
Tesero, Italy – Move over, human athletes! The Olympic women’s team sprint cross-country race in Tesero on Wednesday saw an unexpected and furry competitor join the ranks of its finishers: a dog named Nazgul.
As the final skiers powered towards the finish line, the two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, belonging to relatives of an event official, made a grand entrance. After surveying the scene, Nazgul decided to join the action, sprinting across the finish line alongside the athletes, much to the amusement and delight of the gathered crowd.
While Nazgul’s surprise appearance didn’t alter the medal standings, as the top contenders had already concluded their race, it certainly created a memorable moment. Even the official timekeepers managed to snap a photo of the canine crossing the finish line.
However, not all athletes found the unexpected guest entirely charming. Croatian skier Tena Hadzic admitted, “I was like, ‘Am I hallucinating?’
I don’t know what I should do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me.” Hadzic believes the distraction may have cost her a few seconds, though she noted it was not a significant impact given she wasn’t in medal contention.
Regardless of its impact on individual race times, Nazgul’s impromptu participation has undeniably added a unique and heartwarming anecdote to the Olympic Winter Games.