Two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has tragically passed away after a devastating incident while mountaineering in Pakistan. Dahlmeier, aged 31, was struck by rockfall in the Karakoram mountains around noon 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 mountaineering. At the time of the tragic event, Dahlmeier was at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters.
Following the accident, Dahlmeier’s mountaineering companion, Marina Eva, promptly issued a distress signal, prompting an international rescue team to be deployed in search of her. However, due to the remote location of the incident, a helicopter did not reach the site until the following Tuesday morning.
The rescue operation faced difficulties in reaching the retired athlete due to the risk of falling rocks. By Wednesday, her management confirmed her passing, citing the severity of her injuries based on helicopter observations and her partner’s account.
Due to the challenging conditions with rockfall and changing weather on Laila Peak, recovering Dahlmeier’s body was deemed too hazardous for rescue workers. It was mentioned that it was her wish to leave her body on the mountain, a request supported by her family.
Dahlmeier, known for her historic achievements in biathlon, clinched two gold medals at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, becoming the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit events at the same Olympics. She also secured a bronze in the individual event at those Games before announcing her retirement in May 2019.
Tributes have been pouring in for the late Olympic champion, with the German Olympic Sports Confederation and football club Schalke expressing their condolences and highlighting Dahlmeier’s exceptional character on and off the field.
