Olympic Biathlon Champion Laura Dahlmeier Dies in Tragic Climbing Accident

Laura Dahlmeier tragically went out of her life in much the same way she lived it: with drive, determination and fearlessness. A former German Olympic biathlon champion, she was killed this week in a climbing accident on Pakistan’s Laila Peak, her management and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) confirmed Wednesday.

On July 28, while ascending the steep 18,700-foot slope of the peak in the remote Karakoram range, Dahlmeier and her partner Marina Eva were climbing alpine style—often among rocks, snow and ice, without fixed ropes or high-altitude porters—when falling rocks suddenly struck Dahlmeier. Eva immediately issued a distress call and attempted to rescue her for several hours, according to AP News, but was unsuccessful due to the challenging terrain and persistent rockfall. No longer hearing signs of life, Eva finally descended alone to base camp to get help.

Bad weather and limited visibility delayed search and rescue efforts. Pakistani military helicopters were unable to fly the first day, and it wasn’t until July 29 that crews were able to conduct an aerial search, eventually spotting Dahlmeier’s body on the mountainside. According to a statement from her management team, Dahlmeier had made her wishes clear in advance: no one was to risk their life in any attempt to save or recover her if disaster struck.

“The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the rescue team, especially the local mountaineers,” the team said in a statement. “They did everything possible to facilitate the rescue and reach the accident victim.” It is tradition in Pakistan that unless the family requests recovery of the body of a foreign climber, it is left where the climber fell.

A sport of brutal contrasts, biathlon pairs cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. Athletes must cover grueling terrain on skis, heart racing, lungs burning—then transition to a prone or standing shooting position where calmness and precision are key. Every missed shot brings penalties. It’s a test of stamina, control and precision—something every high-country hunter understands all too well.

Life After Sport

Dahlmeier turned to the mountains full-time following her retirement. She became a certified mountain and ski guide in 2023 and volunteered with the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue service. Known for her love of nature and deep commitment to outdoor life, she had already summited Pakistan’s Great Trango Tower earlier this July, according to ExplorersWeb.

“Dahlmeier had been in the region with friends since the end of June. The 6,069-meter Laila Peak was the second peak on her tour after she climbed the 6,287-meter Great Trango Tower on July 8,” AP News reported. Posts on her Instagram account reveal a fiercely driven adrenaline junkie, who climbed, mountain biked, skied and sky dived—all at an incredibly technical level.

Laila Peak—less than 100 miles from K2—is famed for its beauty but is also rarely climbed due to technical difficulty and exposure to falling rock. It was during this challenge, under monsoon skies, that tragedy struck.

A Nation Mourns

Germany’s top sports and government officials paid tribute to her life and legacy.

“We are deeply shocked by the sudden and much too early death of this wonderful person,” said DOSB President Thomas Weikert in a statement to CNN Sports. “Laura was a role model and inspiration to so many of us in and out of sport.”

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called her “a national role model… an ambassador for our country in the world.”

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