Former Olympian's Canine Companion Makes Unauthorised Olympic Debut
In a bizarre incident that captivated global audiences, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul became an unexpected participant in the women's team cross-country skiing qualifying round at the Winter Olympics. The dog's owner, former Olympic skier Alice Varesco, only discovered her pet's escapade when she saw him sprinting across the finish line on television.
Double Escape Drama Unfolds Live on Television
Alice Varesco, 35, who now works in trade marketing, told the Daily Mail she could hardly believe her eyes when she spotted two-year-old Nazgul barrelling through the competitive event. She and her husband Enrico, who live within walking distance of the Lake Tesero course, had left their dog securely locked in his kennel before attending the biathlon, confident he couldn't possibly escape.
"I thought it was impossible," Varesco explained. "We had left him in his kennel with the door closed, so I couldn't understand how it could be him." The reality only dawned when friends began flooding her phone with video clips from the race, showing what she described as her "stubborn, but very sweet" canine tearing across the competition course.
From Secure Kennel to Olympic Track
After pausing the footage and recognizing Nazgul's distinctive markings, Varesco immediately phoned neighbours who confirmed the dog's kennel was empty and their flat door had been inadvertently left ajar. She believes Nazgul managed to shake open the latch of his kennel before using his paw to pull down the door handle, descending the stairs, and somehow finding his way to the Olympic track.
Race officials eventually managed to apprehend the runaway hound and lead him away from the course to applause from amused spectators. However, the drama continued when Nazgul wriggled free again shortly after being taken off the track, briefly slipping his handler's grasp before being secured for a second time.
"I was so embarrassed," Varesco admitted. "When they told me he had escaped again after they caught him, I just thought, 'Oh no, not again.'"
Competitors React with Mixed Emotions
Global footage showed Nazgul pursuing skiers from Croatia and Greece as they powered toward the finishing straight, prompting coos and laughter from the crowd. However, not all competitors shared the spectators' amusement.
Croatia's Tena Hadzic admitted being startled by the animal's sudden appearance. "At first I thought it was a wolf and that I was hallucinating because of the strenuous race," she revealed. "It was extremely large and, as I ran past it, I was afraid it might bite me."
Hadzic expressed concern about safety implications, noting: "The fact he even made it onto the track isn't good. For me it's no big deal since I'm not competing for a medal. But if that had happened in the final, where medals are at stake, it could have been dangerous."
Greek skier Konstantin Charalampidou, who finished last in the event, took a more relaxed perspective. "Luckily he was very well behaved," she said. "He followed the camera on the finishing straight, was cute and thankfully didn't disrupt the race. It was funny. He made me forget about the race, because it wasn't good. Thanks to him I'm famous now, so I have to thank him."
Literary Namesake Receives Official Recognition
Nazgul takes his name from the Ringwraiths in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and received unexpected official recognition during his Olympic adventure. Swiss timekeeper Omega even gave the canine an official photo finish time as he crossed the line.
Varesco explained the naming choice: "We both love the book, although I wasn't a fan of the name - it was Enrico's idea. I wanted to call him Athos, after one of The Three Musketeers."
Describing her pet's personality, she added: "He's a real wilderness dog and that's the kind of people we are. We love the outdoors and the mountains, and he loves going on long walks with us. It's not an easy breed - you have to work very hard with them in the first year - but he's super social and super friendly."
Organisers Show Understanding After Unprecedented Incident
Varesco expressed relief that race organisers responded with understanding rather than anger. "We apologised to the organisers because we knew things could have gone wrong," she said, "but they were just relieved nothing serious happened."
The former Olympian admitted to initial terror upon realizing what had occurred. "He's friendly, social and playful, but I was worried he might be confused by the crowds and react badly," she confessed. "Something could have gone wrong."
Reflecting on the unprecedented incident, Varesco concluded: "This is the first time he's ever done something like this, so we'll definitely have to keep a much closer eye on him." The race director successfully captured Nazgul initially, but as Varesco noted, "that's when he escaped again," completing the double escape drama that turned an Olympic qualifying event into an unforgettable spectacle.
