Sure, you saw Alysa Liu win gold with a stunning ice skate routine years after her self-imposed retirement, but did you see the Czechoslovakian wolfdog that crossed the finish line during cross-country pre-qualifying races at this year’s Olympics?

The two-year-old athletic pup named Nazgul reportedly escaped his enclosure while his parents were out and ran right onto the nearby track. He made a real show of it, crossing the finish line with the event leaders. After stealing the show, he was returned to his home, where his surprised mom and dad put the pieces together.

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Reuters spoke to Nazgul’s mom to hear what she thought when she first saw memes and photos of her dog crossing the finish line at the Olympics.

“The very first reaction was ‘it’s not him because he is at home, the door is closed and he never opens the door alone,'” she told Reuters. “Additionally to that, he was also in his box, in his kennel where he normally stays and sleeps when we are not at home.”

Redditors React to Nazgul’s Great Escape

The Reuters video was shared on Reddit, where commenters shared in the owner’s surprise.

“I would be losing my mind if I saw my dog on the news when he’s suppose [sic] to be home chilling in his kennel,” one commenter said. “Glad it all turned out well.”

“Wolf dogs have an uncanny knack for escaping,” another commented. “I’ve watched an 100lb malamute jump a 7ft fence with ease.”

Related: Wolfdog Steals the Show by Crashing the Olympics

The Media Loves Nazgul’s Attempt at Olympic Glory

Reuters wasn’t the only outlet to pick up the story. Good Morning America ran a video spot on Nazgul and his big day out, as did NPR and a host of other international news outlets.

“He wanted to look for us, I think,” Nazgul’s mom continues in the Reuters clip, “because he’s used to [going] first in that direction with us when we go for a walk, but also we normally go with him to see the cross-country workup… so probably he wanted to go with us because he saw us leaving, dressed up like going outdoors.”

Nazgul may not have won any medals, but he certainly won over the hearts of animal and sports lovers all around the globe.

Related: These ‘Catlympics’ on TikTok Are Impressive and Have Us Cracking Up

This story was originally published by PawNation on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here.