Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Former Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has tragically died following a mountaineering accident in Pakistan. The 31-year-old German athlete was caught in a rockfall while climbing Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday (July 28). Dahlmeier's climbing partner, Marina Eva, called emergency services after the accident, which occurred at an altitude of approximately 18,700 feet. Rescue efforts were hindered by poor weather, and the operation was called off on the evening of July 29, according to her management.
Dahlmeier, who was an experienced mountaineer, had expressed in writing that she did not want anyone to risk their life to recover her body in such an event. Her family supported this decision. The German Olympic Sports Confederation described Dahlmeier as "more than an Olympic champion" and praised her heart, attitude, and vision.
Dahlmeier was a celebrated athlete, having won two gold medals and one bronze at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. She was the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at the same Games. After retiring from biathlon in 2019, she became a commentator for German broadcaster ZDF and pursued her passion for mountaineering.
Tributes have poured in from around the world, with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry expressing deep shock at her passing. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored Dahlmeier as an ambassador for Germany and a role model for peaceful coexistence across borders. Markus Söder, the premier of her home state Bavaria, praised her ambition and humility, noting her continued involvement in sports as a ski guide and mountain rescue member.