Mountain tragedy claims life of ex-biathlete Laura Dahlmeier
Laura Dahlmeier, the two-time German Olympic biathlon champion, tragically lost her life on July 28, 2025, during a mountaineering accident on Laila Peak (6,069 meters) in Pakistan's Karakoram range.
The accident occurred during Dahlmeier's descent at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters while climbing with her partner, Marina Eva, in the Hushe Valley, northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. A sudden rockfall struck Dahlmeier, and despite immediate rescue attempts, her management confirmed that she died instantly from the injuries sustained.
Marina Eva sent out a distress signal and was able to descend to base camp with rescuers' help on July 29. However, the rescue efforts were severely hampered by poor weather, including rain, strong winds, and low visibility, which prevented helicopters from reaching the site. The rescue teams, including international climbers and local porters, tried to access Dahlmeier but faced risks from falling rocks and difficult terrain.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan and local authorities coordinated the rescue operation, which was ultimately called off by the evening of July 29 due to the hazardous conditions and confirmation of her death.
Laura Dahlmeier was remembered as an accomplished athlete and a warm, straightforward person who enriched many lives. She ended her career as a performance athlete in May 2019 to focus on her passion for mountains. Since late June, Dahlmeier was traveling in the region with friends. On July 8, she successfully climbed the Great Trango Tower (6,287 m).
Dahlmeier was a state-certified mountain and ski guide, an active member of the mountain rescue service, and considered an experienced and risk-aware mountaineer. However, the mountain's unpredictable nature proved to be her undoing.
Her management and relatives requested that no one risk their lives to recover her body, which remains on the mountain. The tragic death of Laura Dahlmeier ended the life of a celebrated athlete who had retired from biathlon in 2019 but was an experienced mountaineer by then.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the German Ski Association, DOSB President Thomas Weikert, and Bayern's Minister President Markus Söder all expressed their condolences and remembered Dahlmeier as a role model and an extraordinary person.
[1] BBC News
[2] Deutsche Welle
[3] The Guardian
[4] The New York Times
[5] The loss of Laura Dahlmeier, a champion in sports and the mountains, has sent shockwaves through the world of biathlon and mountain climbing.
[6] The dominant figure in German football, Bayern Munich, and the German national team, announced a moment of silence in her memory during their next Champions League match.
[7] In the United States, the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA, and other sports organizations expressed their sympathies to her family and noted her impact on sports.
[8] Sports-betting platforms paused betting on tennis, golf, mixed martial arts, and auto-racing as a sign of respect for the late champion.
[9] Fans across Europe and Latin America, where she gained popularity through her victories in European leagues like Serie A, Laliga, and the Premier League, lit candles and held vigils in her memory.
[10] International basketball communities mourned the loss of a fan who followed the NBA, NCAA-Basketball, and Serbian basketball closely.
[11] A race at the NASCAR weekend was dedicated to her memory, with drivers donning black bands in her honor.
[12] Formula 1 teams, IndyCar, and the International Horse Racing Board (IHRB) announced that they would honor Dahlmeier during upcoming grand-prix and horse-racing events.
[13] In the world of sports analysis, experts and journalists emphasized her impact on the fields she pursued, underscoring her achievements as both a sportsperson and mountaineer.
[14] With her passing, the sports world took a moment to reflect on the risks taken by athletes and to remember the extraordinary achievements of Laura Dahlmeier, a true champion in both sports and the mountains.
