German biathlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has died in a climbing accident at the age of 31.
Her team confirmed the tragic news in an Instagram post on Monday, according to Yahoo Sports.
Dahlmeier was reportedly hit by a falling rock while climbing Laila Peak in Pakistan on Monday. Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, sent out a distress signal, but bad weather and low visibility prevented helicopters from reaching them. Rescue teams weren’t able to get to the scene until Tuesday, according to CNN.
Laura Dahlmeier (1993–2025) was a German biathlete and Olympic champion known for her remarkable success in the sport at a young age. Born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, she began skiing early and quickly showed talent in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
Dahlmeier made her World Cup debut in 2013 and rapidly rose through the ranks. Her breakout year came in the 2016–17 season when she won the overall World Cup title. That same year, she dominated the Biathlon World Championships, winning five gold medals and one silver — one of the most successful performances in the sport’s history.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Dahlmeier made more history, becoming the first woman to win both the sprint and pursuit biathlon events at a single Games. She also earned a bronze medal in the individual 15km race, bringing her Olympic medal total to three.
In 2019, at just 25 years old, Dahlmeier announced her retirement from professional biathlon, saying she no longer had the same passion for competition. After retiring, she stayed active in the outdoors, becoming a certified mountain and ski guide, writing children’s books, and participating in mountain running events. She was also involved in mountain rescue efforts in her home region of Bavaria.
