Even after retiring at the height of her career, Laura Dahlmeier never stopped seeking new heights, literally. However, what began as another bold adventure for the Olympic champion has now sparked a wave of sorrow around the world.
Laura Dahlmeier, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of Germany’s most beloved winter sports athletes, has died in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan. She was 31.
Laura Dahlmeier beams with a radiant smile while suspended on a sheer cliffside, from a post dated June 5, 2025 | Source: Instagram/laura_dahlmeier
The Guardian reported that her management confirmed the heartbreaking news on Wednesday, July 30, stating that Dahlmeier was struck by falling rocks while climbing Laila Peak in the Karakoram range.
The accident happened around noon on July 28 at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters in the remote Hushe Valley, located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Laura Dahlmeier is seen scaling a towering vertical cliff face, from a post dated June 5, 2025 | Source: Instagram/laura_dahlmeier
Her representatives said she likely died instantly, adding that her climbing partner, who wasn’t hurt, stayed behind at the scene. The team also shared her final wishes, which were very clear:
“It was Laura Dahlmeier’s express and written will that in a case like this, no one should risk their life to recover her. It was her wish to leave her body behind on the mountain in this case. This is also in line with the wishes of her relatives.”
Laura Dahlmeier and her climbing partner smile at the camera while hanging from a steep rock face, from a post dated June 5, 2025 | Source: Instagram/laura_dahlmeier
Dahlmeier had reportedly been in the region since late June. She was also said to have fully embraced life in the mountains after retiring from professional biathlon in 2019 at just 25.
On social media, a mountain guide, Atta Ullah, recalled a brief but memorable encounter with Dahlmeier at a trekking camp. Her passing has touched not only those who met her on the mountain but also the broader biathlon and Olympic community.
Biathlonworld, the sport’s official platform, shared a moving tribute on Facebook honoring her achievements and the person she was. Emotional messages were also shared on her official Facebook page by those who knew and loved her.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, Dahlmeier made history as the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at the same Games.
The Olympian also won a bronze in the individual event. Leaders across Germany, along with sports groups and fans, have shared heartfelt tributes honoring Dahlmeier’s extraordinary life. She was from Bavaria. Markus Söder, Bavaria’s state premier, also described her as a true role model.
Söder also stated that the athlete was someone who achieved great success with ambition but never lost her humility or connection to home. Even after retiring, he noted, she continued giving back through her love for the outdoors, working as a ski guide, mountain rescuer, and winter sports expert.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry was reported to have remembered Dahlmeier as a trailblazer, especially for her groundbreaking achievements at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation also paid tribute, saying she was far more than just a champion. They described her as someone who led with heart, character, and a clear sense of purpose.
Dahlmeier’s life was short, but she lived it with quiet courage and deep purpose, chasing greatness on Olympic tracks and remote mountain peaks. She’ll be remembered not just as a champion but as someone who inspired others to live boldly and stay true to themselves. Her spirit will be felt far beyond the medals she won.
