‘Deeply shocking’: Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier dies in climbing accident in Pakistan; had wished to remain in mountains

Laura Dahlmeier,31, the double Olympic biathlon champion from Germany, has died in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan, her management confirmed on Wednesday.She was fatally struck by a sudden rockfall as she was scaling the mountain with her climbing partner Marina Eva, who then called emergency services for help, reports the BBC. The incident occurred around noon on Monday, near the 5,700-metre (18,700 feet) mark of Laila Peak in the Hushe Valley, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, reports the Guardian. She had been in the region since the end of June and successfully climbed the Great Trango Tower before the accident. “Laura Dahlmeier died on 28 July in a mountain accident on Laila Peak (6,069 meters) in Pakistan’s Karakoram range,” her representatives were quoted as saying by German newspaper Die Welt.

“A recovery operation was launched but ultimately called off on the evening of 29 July.”Dahlmeier reportedly died instantly while her mountaineering partner was unharmed and stayed at the site. Adverse weather conditions have so far hindered rescue helicopters from accessing the area.“It was Laura Dahlmeier’s express and written will that in a case like this, no one should risk their life to recover her,” said her representatives, reported the Guardian.

“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.”Kristy Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said that Dahlmeier’s death is "deeply shocking for all of us in the Olympic movement".“Laura made history at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics as the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit gold at the same Games edition.

She will be remembered forever,” added Coventry, reports the Guardian. Born in the Bavarian ski town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Dahlmeier retired from biathlon in 2019, at the age of 25, after making history as the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at a single Olympics. She earned two gold medals and a bronze at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Dahlmeier was an"ambassador for our country around the world and a role model for peaceful, joyful and fair coexistence across borders", said German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier.