German Two-Time Olympic Biathlon Champion Laura Dahlmeier has Died in a Climbing Accident in Pakistan
- therookiereporters
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier (31) has died in a rockfall accident while climbing Laila Peak in Pakistan. Due to her wishes, her body will remain in the mountains.
German double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier (31) suffered a fatal mountaineering accident while climbing Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Karakorum mountains.
Around noon on 28 July, the experienced and certified mountaineer was struck by falling rocks at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres, her management company reported.
Her mountaineering partner, Marina Krauss, was with her at the time of the accident. She immediately contacted rescue services, and an international rescue team was dispatched to the area.
Due to the remoteness of the location, a helicopter was unable to access the site until the morning of 29 July. Laura Dahlmeier’s passing was officially confirmed by her management on Wednesday, 30 July.
Rescuers were unable to retrieve Dahlmeier’s body on Wednesday because of unfavourable conditions.
Any final decision regarding the retrieval of Dahlmeier’s body would be made in accordance with her family’s wishes.
But the 31-year-old expressed in her will that any rescue operations to recover her body must not endanger anyone else. In case such a scenario ever happened, her body should remain in the mountains.
German mountaineer Thomas Huber was part of the rescue team, but on Thursday, he told reporters, “We have decided she should stay, because that was her wish.”
Another member of the rescue team, American Jackson Marvell, said it would be “disrespectful” to recover her body contrary to her wishes.
“The recovery of Laura’s body will be possible, but it involves incredible risks, both on foot and by helicopter,” Marvell said.
During a press conference held on Thursday, Dahlmeier’s climbing partner, Marina Krauss, said that the former Olympian showed no signs of movement after being struck by the rockfall.
“I saw Laura being hit by a huge rock and then being thrown against the wall. And from that moment on, she didn’t move again,” Krauss told reporters.
Krauss explained that she was unable to reach Dahlmeier and had to call for external support. “It was impossible for me to get there safely,” she said. “The only way to help her was to call for a helicopter. She didn’t move, she didn’t show any signs [of movement]. I called out to her, but there was no response.”
Following the confirmation of the tragic news, her family released a heartfelt statement.
“We say farewell to a wonderful human being. With her warm and sincere nature, Laura enriched our lives and the lives of many others,” the statement read. “She showed us that it’s worth standing up for one’s dreams and goals, while always staying true to oneself.”
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) also released a statement on its website. “Laura was one of the greatest athletes to grace biathlon and her loss is felt deeply by everyone in biathlon, the wider German sport family and beyond. The IBU’s thoughts are with Laura’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”
Laura Dahlmeier won seven world championship gold medals during her career. Additionally, she made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, as the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and the pursuit at the same Games.
In May 2019, Dahlmeier announced her retirement from competitive biathlon at the age of 25 and she dedicated herself to her passion of mountaineering.
Article written by Jana Van Nieuwenborgh
