By Victor Kanayo
Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has reportedly lost her life, aged 31.
This was confirmed by Dahlmeier’s management company on Wednesday.
According to reports, Dahlmeier, a German, died after a mountaineering accident which involved a rockfall during an expedition at the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan on Monday.
Failed Intervention
Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, was reported to have called emergency services after the accident, which occurred at about 5,700 metres (18,700 feet).
Rescue teams, containing expert climbers from Germany and the United States, immediately began a rescue mission, but their searches were hindered by adverse weather conditions.
Her representatives told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper that, “A recovery operation was launched but ultimately called off on the evening of 29 July.
“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.”
Dahlmeier’s Career Achievements
Dahlmeier, an experienced mountaineer, represented Germany at two Winter Olympics, winning two golds and one bronze medal in Pyeongchang in 2018.
She was the first woman to win the sprint and pursuit events at the same Games, and won a further 15 medals, including seven golds, across five World Championships before retiring from competition in May 2019.
