Beloved Olympic champion Dahlmeier passes away: "She desired to depart amidst the snowy peaks"
In a tragic turn of events, Laura Dahlmeier, the former German biathlon champion, lost her life in a mountaineering accident on July 28, 2025. The accident occurred at Laila Peak, which stands at approximately 6,069 meters in Pakistan's Karakoram range.
Dahlmeier, a native of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was descending from the summit with her climbing partner, Marina Krauss, when a rockfall triggered by a rope maneuver during rappelling struck Dahlmeier, causing fatal injuries. Krauss, who was unharmed, immediately sent an SOS distress signal.
Despite many hours of effort to reach Dahlmeier, the difficult terrain and ongoing risk of rockfall prevented a successful rescue. Krauss had to retreat during the night to reach base camp with the help of rescuers.
On July 29, a helicopter dispatched by the Pakistan army spotted Dahlmeier’s body but detected no signs of life. The operation to recover her body was launched but later called off on the evening of July 29 due to conditions.
Dahlmeier was 31 years old. She was a highly accomplished biathlete, winning two Olympic gold medals in 2018, seven world championships, and the 2017 women's biathlon World Cup before retiring in 2019 to focus on alpinism.
Since her retirement, Dahlmeier has been active as a biathlon expert for ZDF, alongside her mountaineering and climbing tours. It was her explicit and written wish that no one risk their life to retrieve her in a case like this.
The former biathlete was in the region since late June, accompanied by friends. She had already successfully summited the Great Trango Tower (6,287 m) on July 8. The retrieval of Dahlmeier's body is currently too risky for rescue teams due to difficult conditions and is not feasible.
Our thoughts are with Dahlmeier's family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. She will be remembered as one of the most successful German biathletes of the past decade, with two Olympic gold medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and a total of seven World Championship titles.
The loss of Laura Dahlmeier, a prominent figure in the sports world, has extended beyond the biathlon community. Sport-betting enthusiasts may also mourn her passing, as she was not only an accomplished biathlete but also a insightful sports-analysis expert on ZDF. Mixed-martial-arts fans might appreciate Dahlmeier's triumph in climbing the Great Trango Tower, demonstrating her versatility in both winter and mountain sports.
