Two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has sadly passed away after a tragic incident while mountaineering in Pakistan. Dahlmeier, aged 31, was struck by rockfall in the Karakoram mountains around midday on Monday, as reported by her management.
The renowned German athlete had retired from professional biathlon at the age of 25 in 2019 to pursue her love for mountaineering. At the time of the accident, Dahlmeier was situated at an elevation of approximately 5,700 meters.
Following the distress signal sent out by Dahlmeier’s mountaineering companion, Marina Eva, an international rescue team was mobilized to locate her. Due to the remote location of the incident, a helicopter did not reach the site until Tuesday morning.
Rescue efforts were hindered by the risk of falling rocks, making it challenging for the team to reach the location where Dahlmeier was believed to be. On Wednesday, her management confirmed her unfortunate demise.
In a statement, her management mentioned, “Based on the observations from the helicopter flyover and the description of her injuries provided by her climbing partner, it is believed that Laura Dahlmeier passed away immediately.”
Given the hazardous conditions with rockfall and changing weather on Laila Peak, recovering Dahlmeier’s body was deemed too perilous for the rescue team. It was stated that it was her wish to be left on the mountain, a sentiment respected by her loved ones.
Dahlmeier’s legacy includes winning two gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018, where she made history as the first female biathlete to triumph in sprint and pursuit events at the same Games. She also secured a bronze medal in the individual event at the same competition before announcing her retirement in May 2019.
Tributes honoring the late Olympic champion are pouring in from various quarters. The German Olympic Sports Confederation expressed their condolences in a poignant message, highlighting Dahlmeier’s character beyond her sporting achievements.
German football club Schalke also paid tribute to Dahlmeier, describing her as not only a remarkable athlete but also a compassionate individual. They extended their sympathies to her family, friends, and the biathlon community.
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