Paws-itively Olympic: Dog Crashes Ski Race, Steals Hearts at Milan-Cortina Qualifier

A rare incident at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics cross-country skiing women's team sprint free qualification round has become a major topic on social media: a dog intruded onto the course during the race and sprinted across the finish line alongside an athlete.

The unexpected event unfolded when a dog suddenly appeared on the course where athletes were competing fiercely, and proceeded to cross the finish line right behind a Croatian athlete. According to footage released by TVer, the dog, though not running at full speed, dashed across the course with an intensity comparable to the athletes and crossed the finish line. While its 'record remains unknown,' its presence was captured clearly by photographers.

This surprising turn of events sparked numerous comments of astonishment and amusement on X (formerly Twitter), such as 'What is this🤣🤣🤣🤣' and 'The most peaceful Olympic footage has arrived!!!' Many users were captivated by the dog's adorable appearance, exclaiming 'The dog is so cute' and 'That doggy is too cute, I'm melting!!!' Comments also expressed renewed admiration for the athletes' speed: 'Cross-country skiers must be incredibly fast if even a large dog running (not at full speed...) couldn't quite catch up!?'

Discussions also erupted regarding the dog's breed, with some saying 'It looks like a wolf' or 'A wolfdog-like dog is super cute❤.' Given that it was wearing a collar, users speculated it was a pet: 'It had a collar😅.' While some recalled similar past incidents, such as when an unleashed pet dog caused a major impact on the Hakone Ekiden race this year by forcing athletes to avoid it, and expressed concern for the safety of both athletes and the dog, fortunately, this particular incident did not lead to any major accidents.

The dog's intrusion temporarily eased the tension of the competition and brought smiles to many viewers. It will surely be remembered as an unexpected, quintessential Olympic moment from the Milan-Cortina Games.

The context

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are still some time away, but qualification events and test runs are ongoing, setting the stage for the main competition. Cross-country skiing is a demanding endurance winter sport where athletes navigate varied terrain using skis and poles, often in individual and team events like the sprint free qualification mentioned. Japan has a strong following for winter sports, and incidents, especially those involving animals, often gain significant attention on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The reference to the 'Hakone Ekiden' highlights a highly prestigious and immensely popular annual university relay marathon race in Japan, where public interference or animal intrusion on the narrow course can be a serious issue due to the high stakes and competitive nature. This background helps explain why the dog's appearance, while amusing, also sparked discussions about safety among Japanese viewers.