Nazgul the wolfdog disrupts women's cross-country sprint at Milano-Cortina Olympics

Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, sprinted onto the women's cross-country skiing team sprint qualifying course at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, creating a disruption during the qualifying heat on February 18. The dog is owned by Enrico and Alice Varesco of Tesero, Italy, and escaped its home before running onto the Olympic course.

The incident unfolded during the women's team sprint qualifying race at Milano-Cortina 2026, where athletes were contesting places in the next round when Nazgul entered the field. Organizers listed the event as part of the Winter Olympics schedule and the presence of a loose, athletic wolfdog on course interrupted the flow of the qualifying heat on that afternoon of February 18.

Local identification of the animal linked Nazgul to Enrico and Alice Varesco of Tesero; the owners' names and Tesero residence were part of the immediate facts reported after the animal left its home. Nazgul's breed and age - a Czechoslovakian wolfdog, 2 years old - were confirmed as part of the public record connected to the disruption at Milano-Cortina.

The presence of Nazgul on the cross-country course raised questions about perimeter control at Olympic venues and the ability to keep loose animals away from competition lines during high-profile events. Milano-Cortina 2026 officials had to manage a situation in which a private animal from Tesero intersected with an Olympic women's team sprint qualifying session on February 18, potentially affecting race conditions and athlete focus.

For owners and handlers of high-energy, large-breed animals like Nazgul, the episode at Milano-Cortina underscores the stakes of secure containment during major events. Nazgul's sprint onto the women's team sprint qualifying course is now part of the public record from the February 18 competition at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and the facts tie the animal directly to Enrico and Alice Varesco of Tesero, Italy.