Olympic Gold Medalist Dead at 31 in Mountaineering Accident
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has died after a mountaineering accident in Pakistan.
According to her management company, Dahlmeier was on a trip in the region's Karakoram mountains when she was trapped in a rockfall on Monday, July 28.
Dahlmeier's climbing partner, Marina Eva, alerted rescue services, who dispatched a helicopter to the area where Dahlmeier was trapped. However, the rescue was called off due to how remote the area is.
"It was determined that a helicopter rescue is not possible," a senior official in Pakistan said. "The conditions at the altitude where she was injured are extremely challenging, and a team of foreign climbers will launch a ground rescue mission today."
The ground mission launched on Wednesday, July 30. The team located Dahlmeier and pronounced her dead at the scene. She was 31 years old.
Dahlmeier won gold in both the women's biathlon sprint and pursuit at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea while representing Germany. She was the first woman to win both events at the same Olympics.
Dahlmeier's family issued a statement about her death on Wednesday, July 30.
"We say farewell to a wonderful human being," her family said. "With her warm and sincere nature, Laura enriched our lives and the lives of many others. She showed us that it's worth standing up for one's dreams and goals, while always staying true to oneself."
Dahlmeier received condolences from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who called her "a great sportswoman."
"Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders," Steinmeier said in a statement.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry also paid tribute to Dahlmeier, saying she "lost her life in her beloved mountains."
"She will be remembered forever," Coventry said. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time."
Dahlmeier retired from her professional biathlon career in 2019 and became an avid mountaineer before her death.
Olympic Gold Medalist Dead at 31 in Mountaineering Accident first appeared on Parade on Jul 30, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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