LOOSE DOG CROSSES FINISH LINE AT OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY RACE

The women’s cross-country team sprint qualifier at the Winter Olympics in Italy delivered an unforgettable surprise when an unexpected athlete joined the race — an escaped dog.

As skiers pushed toward the finish line, NBC Sports cameras captured a Czech wolfhound sprinting behind Croatian skier Tena Hadzic. The pup confidently crossed the line right alongside the competitors, instantly stealing the spotlight and the hearts of fans in attendance.

“The biggest cheer of the day and it’s not for any of the skiers so far,” one announcer joked as the crowd erupted.

The four-legged racer was later identified as Nazgul, a 2-year-old Czech wolfhound named after the ringwraiths from The Lord of the Rings. According to his owner, Nazgul is “stubborn, but very sweet,” and likely chased after them simply because he didn’t want to be left behind.

Thankfully, this Olympic hopeful was safely returned home — with a legendary story to match his photo finish.