Tragic demise of mountaineer Laura Dahlmeier on a treacherous slope
Laura Dahlmeier: A Life of Achievements Cut Short by Mountaineering Accident
Laura Dahlmeier, a double Olympic champion and seven-time world champion biathlete, tragically lost her life in a mountaineering accident on Laila Peak in Pakistan's Karakorum range on 30 July 2025. Dahlmeier, who retired from competitive biathlon in May 2019 at the age of 25, had pursued her passion for adventure and risk sports, including mountaineering, skydiving, and motorcycling, post-retirement.
At the 2019 World Championships, Dahlmeier won a total of 15 World Championship medals, seven of which were gold. She fulfilled her goal of becoming an Olympic champion at the age of 25 in 2018. After her retirement, Dahlmeier became a TV expert for ZDF but never pursued a permanent job with the German Ski Association.
In 2023, Dahlmeier demonstrated her athletic prowess by cycling 500 kilometers in one go and later running 100 kilometers in one go. She was a state-certified mountain and ski guide, an active member of the mountain rescue service in her hometown, and competed in the World Mountain Running Championships and ski touring races. Dahlmeier completed a sports degree at the Technical University of Munich.
Dahlmeier's mountaineering career included several challenging expeditions. In 2023, she successfully ascended Korzhenevskaya Peak (7,100 meters) in Tajikistan. The following year, she set a women's record time in climbing Ama Dablam (6,800 meters) in Nepal.
Her mountaineering career tragically ended on 28 July 2025, at an altitude of about 5,700 meters on Laila Peak. Dahlmeier was caught in a rockfall during the climb. Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, immediately sent out a distress signal and returned to base camp with rescuers, but Dahlmeier remained stranded and injured on the mountain.
Rescue efforts were severely hampered by poor weather, including rain and strong winds that grounded Pakistani military helicopters. After a difficult overnight delay, an international rescue team, including climbers from the USA and Germany and local high-altitude porters, began the attempt to reach her on 29 July. Despite these efforts, Dahlmeier succumbed to her injuries and passed away on 30 July 2025.
Dahlmeier's family confirmed that it was her "explicit and written wish" to leave her body on the mountain in such a case. She was remembered not only for her outstanding sports achievements but also for being a dedicated and certified mountaineer with remarkable climbs post-retirement. Her accident highlights the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, even for experienced climbers.
Dahlmeier's ex-boyfriend died in a avalanche accident in Patagonia at the beginning of January 2022. Dahlmeier once said, "I feel at home in the mountains." She was an advocate for environmental protection and sustainability, and criticized mass tourism on Mount Everest.
Dahlmeier competed at a total of 20 World Cup races and won a total of 20 races. She won the overall World Cup in the same season. Her life and achievements will continue to inspire many, both in the world of sports and in the realm of adventure.
[1] Pakistan Mountain News [2] BBC News [3] ZDF Sport
- Despite retiring from competitive biathlon at a young age, Laura Dahlmeier continued to pursue a lifestyle filled with adventure sports like mountaineering, skydiving, and motorcycling, as reported by Pakistan Mountain News.
- After her tragic death in a mountaineering accident, Laura Dahlmeier's sports career transitioned into a career as a TV expert for ZDF, covering general news and sports analysis, as documented by ZDF Sport.
- Apart from her numerous accomplishments in biathlon, Laura Dahlmeier's mountaineering career also included records such as the women's record time in climbing Ama Dablam and a successful ascent of Korzhenevskaya Peak, as highlighted in BBC News.
- Laura Dahlmeier's passion for adventure sports and environmental protection led her to advocate against mass tourism on Mount Everest, which made headlines in various travel and adventure-travel related publications.
