There’s been no shortage of viral moments at the Winter Olympics, and Wednesday brought yet another to the growing list in Italy.
An unexpected visitor appeared midway through the women’s cross-country team free sprint, with a local dog darting onto the course.
Nazghul, a two-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog, escaped from his home at a nearby bed-and-breakfast and joined the action at the Milano Cortina Games.
His sprint across the snow delighted viewers, quickly gained traction on television and social media, and, importantly, didn’t significantly affect any of the athletes.
The incident occurred during a preliminary qualifying round, with the top medal contenders having already finished.
“He was crying this morning more than normal because he was seeing us leaving — and I think he just wanted to follow us,” Nazghul’s owner told NPR. “He always looks for people.”
Here’s a look at some of the reaction online to the canine competitor.