GILGIT-BALTISTAN, Pakistan (BN24) — Laura Dahlmeier, the celebrated German biathlete and double Olympic champion, has died at the age of 31 following a tragic mountaineering accident in the northern ranges of Pakistan, her management confirmed on Wednesday.
Dahlmeier, who made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang by becoming the first woman to win both the sprint and pursuit events in biathlon at a single Games, was climbing Laila Peak—a 6,094-meter summit in the Gilgit-Baltistan province—when she was struck by a sudden rockfall on Monday.
Her death was confirmed by two separate rescue teams after days of intense search efforts led by both German and American climbers. A helicopter search mission was conducted Tuesday evening, but poor weather hindered rescue access and no signs of life were found. Her mountaineering partner, Marina Eva Krauss, was able to descend safely to base camp and is reported to be in good condition.
Dahlmeier, born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, was a dominant force in biathlon before retiring from the sport in 2019 at just 25. In addition to her two Olympic gold medals, she also claimed a bronze in the individual event and won seven World Championship titles during her brief but exceptional career.
Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the sporting world. The German Olympic Sports Confederation said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter): “She was more than an Olympic champion — she was someone with heart, attitude, and vision.”
The premier of Bavaria, Markus Söder, paid tribute to Dahlmeier’s achievements and character, saying: “Laura Dahlmeier epitomised her native Bavaria in the best sense of the word: she was ambitious and successful, yet always remained humble and close to her homeland. Even after her active career, she shared her love of sport as a winter sports expert, member of the mountain rescue service and ski guide.”
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry also mourned her loss. “The news about the passing of two-time Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier in a terrible mountaineering accident is deeply shocking for all of us in the Olympic movement. Laura made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics… she will be remembered forever.”
Earlier this month, Dahlmeier had successfully summited the 6,287-meter Great Trango Tower, also located in northern Pakistan. Her next challenge was the technically demanding ascent of Laila Peak—an iconic, spear-shaped mountain known for its beauty and danger.
Though she stepped away from competitive biathlon early, Dahlmeier remained deeply active in outdoor sports and conservation, often seen guiding mountain tours and participating in alpine rescue operations.
Her death marks a tragic loss not only for Germany’s sporting community but for international winter sports as a whole.
