Two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has tragically passed away after a devastating incident while climbing in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountains. Dahlmeier, aged 31, was struck by falling rocks around midday on Monday, as confirmed by her management.
The German athlete had retired from professional biathlon at the age of 25 in 2019 to pursue her love for mountain climbing. At the time of the accident, Dahlmeier was reportedly at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters.
Following the distress signal sent out by Dahlmeier’s climbing partner, Marina Eva, an international rescue team was mobilized to locate her. However, due to the remote location of the accident, a helicopter didn’t reach the site until the following morning.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the risk of rockfall, making it challenging for workers to reach the area where Dahlmeier was believed to be. Tragically, her management confirmed her passing on Wednesday.
According to her management, based on observations from a helicopter flyover and the severity of her injuries described by her climbing partner, it is believed that Dahlmeier succumbed to her injuries immediately. Due to hazardous conditions with rockfall and changing weather on Laila Peak, recovering her body was deemed too risky. It was mentioned that it was Dahlmeier’s wish to leave her body on the mountain, a request supported by her family.
Dahlmeier’s legacy includes winning two gold medals at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, where she made history by becoming the first female biathlete to secure victories in sprint and pursuit events at the same Olympics. She also clinched a bronze medal in the individual event at those Games before announcing her retirement in May 2019.
Tributes are pouring in for the beloved Olympic champion. The German Olympic Sports Confederation expressed their condolences in a heartfelt statement, describing Dahlmeier as more than just an Olympic champion but a person of heart, conviction, and vision whose story will endure.
German football club Schalke paid their respects to Dahlmeier, acknowledging her as a remarkable athlete and a kind-hearted individual. They extended their sympathies to her family, friends, and the biathlon community, bidding her to rest in peace.