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Lindsey Vonn Shares Her Dog Died One Day After Her Crash at 2026 Olympics
This dog deserves a round of a-paws!
A Czechoslovakian wolfdog made a surprise appearance at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, showing up near the finish line of the women’s cross-country skiing team sprint free race on Feb. 18.
As shown in video footage of the broadcast, the canine eagerly attempted to keep up with the skiers ahead. Though he didn’t finish in first place, the dog did cross the finish line before greeting the Olympic athletes who were catching their breath—and who were very confused by the animal’s unexpected appearance.
"I was like, 'Am I hallucinating?'" Croatian skier Tena Hadzic told reporters after seeing the animal at the end of the race, per NPR. "I don't know what I should do, because maybe he could attack me, bite me."
Argentinian skier Nahiara Díaz González was also surprised, telling CNN, “He was super happy crossing the finish line. I was so focused on finishing the race [that] I didn’t look at the dog.”
“It was just a fun experience,” Nahiara, 22, continued. “This is not normal. I don’t know what he was doing here. But the finish was not a problem. Luckily, it went well.”
Maja Dahlqvist, the Swedish skier who ultimately won the race alongside teammate Jonna Sundling, added to CNN, “I was surprised as everyone else. That was something I had never seen ever before. Kind of crazy.”
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
The dog was later wrangled by race officials and returned to his owners. But as it turns out, he’s actually a well-known visitor in the area. Nazgul is the beloved 2-year-old pet of an Olympic official—and he had major FOMO about being left at home that day.
“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving and I think he just wanted to follow us,” the owner told NPR, adding that their "stubborn, but very sweet" dog escaped from their home after they left. “He always looks for people.”
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
Luckily, Nazgul did not impact the race, which was a qualification for the final, but the skiers were glad he didn’t appear during a more crucial moment.
"It's not that big deal because I'm not fighting for medals or anything big," Tena, 21, told NPR, noting that the dog’s surprise cameo may have cost her “some seconds” in the race. "But if that happened in the finals, it could really cost someone the medals, or a really good result.”
For more noteworthy moments from the 2026 Olympics, keep reading…
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Slip Up
U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin, also known as "Quad God," takes an uncharacteristic fall during the men's single free skating competition, ultimately landing him in eighth place.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Head in the Game
German bobsledder Laura Nolte gears up before training for the monobob, the single-person bobsleigh event for women.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Victory Selfie
Following the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi poses for picture with Team USA's Chloe Kim and Mitsuki Ono of Japan taken using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition.
Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
From One Olympian to Another
Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze snaps a photo with Simone Biles, the most-decorated gymnast in Olympic history, during the men's singles figure skating competition.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/Getty Images
You're on Candid Camera
A cameraman films U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin hugging after the second run of the women's team combined salom event.
Odd ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
A Small Gift
French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot has some fun with plushies of Milan-Cortina Olympics mascots Milo and Tina, which she received as part of winning the silver medal in the women's biathlon 15km individual event.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Thinking of Home
Skier Dmytro Shepiuk uses a sticky note to send love to his fellow Ukranians after finishing the men's super-G event.
WANG Zhao/AFP via Getty Images
Scream and Shout
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women's singles free skating team event.
JASPER JACOBS/BELGA MAG/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
All the Emotions
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam wipes tears from her eyes after learning she set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Big Air
China's Eileen Gu competes in the women's freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
With Him Always
U.S. skater Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his late parents close after competing in the men's single skating short program.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Twists and Turns
A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women's freestyle slopestyle.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Pierogi Power
Polish figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova holds up a plushie of a pierogi—widely considered to be Poland's national food—as she celebrates with her teammates during the women's single skating short program.
Tom Weller/Getty Images
It's a Bird, It's a Plane
No, it's Team Austria's ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Double Trouble
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women's doubles.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Say Cheese!
The winners of the figure skating team event snap a selfie with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition while on the podium.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ice to See You
Alysa Liu of United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women's single skating short program event.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
So Close
Team Great Britain's Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia's Jakub Hrones during the men's snowboard big air qualifiers.
Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images
Photo Finish
Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a training session.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match.
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