Two-time Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died in a mountaineering accident at the age of 31, her management team has confirmed. The German athlete, who won two gold medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, was caught in a rockfall in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountains on Monday.
A complex search and rescue mission was launched after Dahlmeier’s mountaineering partner, Marina Eva, sent out a distress signal. The accident happened at around a 5,700-metre altitude at Laila Peak and the remote conditions meant that the rescue helicopter did not reach the area where they believed Dahlmeier to be until Tuesday morning.
Adverse weather conditions cut the helicopter search short as teams of expert climbers from Germany and the USA were drafted in, with Pakistan’s army also cooperating in a rescue effort which carried over into Wednesday.
But Dahlmeier’s management has now confirmed the tragic news by issuing the following statement to ZDF: “Based on the findings from the helicopter overflight and the rope partner’s description of the severity of her injuries, it can be assumed that Laura Dahlmeier died immediately.
“Recovering the body is too risky for the rescue workers under the current difficult conditions with rockfall and a change in the weather on Laila Peak and is not feasible.
“Her wish was to leave her body on the mountain in this case. This is also in the interest of her relatives, who also expressly request that Laura’s final wishes be respected.
“The family extends its sincere thanks to the rescue team, especially the mountaineers who came to the scene to help. They did their very best to facilitate a rescue and reach the victim.”
It is reported that Dahlmeier’s ‘express and written will’ was for nobody to risk their lives in an attempt to save her. She gave up professional biathlon to pursue her passion for mountaineering in 2019 – the year after winning gold in both the sprint and the pursuit biathlon disciplines in Pyeongchang, plus a bronze medal in the individual event.
Dahlmeier was a certified mountain guide and an active member of the mountain rescue service, according to reports. Her climbing partner is said to be ‘uninjured and receiving on-site care’ after being escorted back to base camp.
The former Winter Olympic star’s management team added: “We bid farewell to a wonderful person. Laura enriched our lives and the lives of many with her warm and straightforward manner.
“She showed us that it’s worth standing up for your own dreams and goals and always staying true to yourself. We are deeply grateful, dear Laura, that we were allowed to share in your life. Our shared memories give us strength and courage to continue on our path.”