German biathlon star and two-time Olympic gold medallist Laura Dahlmeier has died at the age of 31 following a tragic mountaineering accident in Pakistan, her management team confirmed.
Dahlmeier, who made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang by becoming the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at a single Games, passed away after being struck by a rockfall while attempting to summit the 6,094-metre Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
She had retired from professional biathlon in 2019 at the age of 25 and had since pursued a passion for mountaineering. Dahlmeier was climbing alongside her partner, Marina Eva Krauss, when the incident occurred on Monday. Krauss was able to descend safely and is reported to be in good condition.
Rescue efforts included teams from Germany and the United States, as well as a helicopter search on Tuesday evening. However, poor weather conditions hampered access to the site, and no signs of life were found. Two rescue teams later confirmed Dahlmeier’s death.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation expressed deep sorrow, stating, “She was more than an Olympic champion—she was a woman of heart, courage, and vision.”
Tributes poured in from across Germany and the global sporting community. Bavarian Premier Markus Söder remembered her as “ambitious and successful, yet always humble and deeply connected to her homeland.” He noted her continued involvement in sports as a ski guide and member of a mountain rescue team after retirement.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry also paid tribute, saying: “The news of Laura Dahlmeier’s passing in a tragic mountaineering accident is deeply saddening. She made Olympic history in 2018 and lost her life doing what she loved—in the mountains. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.”
Just weeks earlier, Dahlmeier had successfully summited the 6,287-metre Great Trango Tower and had set her sights on conquering Laila Peak next.
Born in the Bavarian ski town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Dahlmeier leaves behind a legacy as one of Germany’s most accomplished biathletes and a passionate mountaineer whose adventurous spirit inspired many.
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