Tragically confirmed: German winter sports ace Dahlmeier perished in Pakistan
Former German Biathlon Champion Laura Dahlmeier Dies in Mountain Climbing Accident
Laura Dahlmeier, a retired German biathlete and one of the greatest athletes of her generation, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 31. The cause of death was a mountaineering accident in the mountains of northern Pakistan.
Athletic Career and Achievements
Born on August 22, 1993, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Dahlmeier excelled in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. She began her professional career in 2011 and quickly rose to the top, winning multiple medals at the Biathlon World Championships and the Olympics.
In the 2017 season, Dahlmeier made history by becoming the first biathlete to win seven world championship gold medals in a single season. Her gold medals came in the sprint, pursuit, individual, mass start, and relay events. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, she won two gold medals (10 km pursuit and 12.5 km mass start) and one bronze medal (7.5 km sprint).
Throughout her career, Dahlmeier secured numerous World Cup victories and podium finishes. She claimed the overall World Cup title in the 2016-2017 season.
Mountaineering Pursuits
After retiring from professional biathlon in May 2019, Dahlmeier pursued her passion for mountain climbing. She had participated in several challenging mountaineering expeditions, including up the 7,100-meter Korzhenevskaya Peak in Tajikistan in 2023. In 2024, she successfully ascended the 6,800-meter Ama Dablam in Nepal in a women's record time.
The incident that led to her death occurred on Wednesday while she was ascending the 6,069-meter-high Laila Peak. On Tuesday, her climbing partner, Marina Eva, sent a distress signal and was able to descend to base camp with the help of rescuers. Dahlmeier remained injured and inaccessible on the mountain.
Rescue Attempts and Conditions
Adverse weather conditions hampered rescue attempts, with Pakistani military helicopters remaining grounded due to low visibility, rain, and strong winds. On Wednesday morning, four international climbers - three Americans and one German - along with two local high-altitude porters set out on a rescue mission.
Speaking to a website, Karar Haideri, the Vice-President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, estimated that Dahlmeier's chances of survival were "50-50" but did emphasize that injured climbers have been known to survive for days with oxygen.
Dahlmeier was described as an "experienced and risk-aware climber."
This article was edited by Sean Sinico.
In the wake of Laura Dahlmeier's tragic death during a mountaineering accident in the mountains of northern Pakistan, international climbers, including three Americans, embarked on a rescue mission. Despite her extensive experience and awareness of risks, Dahlmeier's achievements extended beyond mountain climbing, as she was a renowned biathlete who dominated the international World Cup circuit and won multiple medals at the Biathlon World Championships and the Olympics.
