Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier dies in Pakistan after a rockfall during a mountain expedition.
Her death on Laila Peak has shocked fans and the global climbing and sports community.
German Olympic biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier has died following a tragic climbing accident on Laila Peak in northern Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains. The 31-year-old athlete was struck by falling rocks while ascending the 6,096-metre (20,000-foot) peak on Monday, July 28, 2025. Her death was confirmed two days later, though rescuers have been unable to recover her body due to treacherous weather conditions.
According to Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, a rescue mission was launched after a distress signal was received from Dahlmeier’s climbing partner, Marina Eva. Eva survived the ordeal and reached base camp with assistance after making repeated but unsuccessful efforts to save Dahlmeier. A statement released on the athlete’s Instagram page noted it was her express wish that no one should risk their life to retrieve her remains.
Dahlmeier, who had been in the region since late June, had successfully summited the 6,287-meter Great Trango Tower on July 8. Laila Peak was her second major climb during the expedition. Her management confirmed she sustained fatal injuries at about 5,700 metres.
Tributes have poured in from across the world. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier extended condolences to her family, praising Dahlmeier as an “ambassador for our country” and a symbol of fair play and international camaraderie. He recalled awarding her the Silver Laurel Leaf, Germany’s highest sports honor, after her 2018 Olympic triumph.
Dahlmeier retired from professional biathlon in 2019 after a decorated career that included two Olympic gold medals and one bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, along with seven world championship titles and 20 World Cup victories. In recent years, she has turned her focus to mountaineering, becoming a certified mountain and ski guide in 2023 and serving as a volunteer with the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue team.
Her passing has cast a shadow over the climbing community. Despite harsh terrain and ongoing seasonal floods that have already claimed other lives in the region, military helicopters and fellow climbers had prepared to assist with recovery efforts. However, her family has asked that her wish to be left where she fell be honored.
