Laura Dahlmeier: A unique book about love and loss on the mountain

Laura Dahlmeier: A unique book about love and loss on the mountain

The world of sports has lost one of its brightest stars. Laura Dahlmeier, the former biathlete and passionate mountaineer, tragically had an accident while descending Laila Peak in Pakistan at the end of July 2023. A rockfall hit her and despite a rescue mission attempting to recover her body, it was unfortunately unsuccessful. This loss not only shocked the sports field, but also many fans who adored her athletic achievements and tireless spirit.

Today, November 4th, 2025, the posthumously published book “Bock auf Biathlon”, which was compiled by sports reporter Taufig Khalil, will be presented. In this work, Dahlmeier provides insights into her impressive career in biathlon and her love of mountaineering. The first chapter, which is written in the first person, allows readers to look behind the scenes of their lives and is dedicated to their experiences and retrospectives.

Insight into the life of Laura Dahlmeier

Dahlmeier fondly remembers her time as a biathlete and reflects on her retirement in 2019. In her book, she emphasizes how important it is to show consistently good performances over an entire season in order to win the overall World Cup. She often found balance in the mountains - ice climbing became one of her favorite activities. She describes an experience during a training camp in North Tyrol when, after a day in bed, she went ice climbing and enjoyed the freedom of the mountains.

She had a particularly impressive meeting with the extreme mountaineer Alexander Huber, whose brother Thomas Huber later tried to save Laura from her misfortune. In her book, Dahlmeier also reflects on her competitions, such as the World Championships in Hochfilzen in 2017, where she had difficulty enjoying the moments of happiness. However, a physical collapse after a relay competition did not lead to her withdrawal; On the contrary, she didn't let it stop her and achieved one of the best performances of her career in the next race.

Mountaineering as passion and success

In 2024, Dahlmeier ventured on a Himalayan expedition to the 6,814 meter high Ama Dablam - also known as the “Matterhorn of Nepal”. Despite a failed first attempt eight years ago, this time she managed to reach the summit and set a new women's world record. The climb took three days, carrying all of her own equipment. Fresh snow posed a challenge on summit day, but the good weather helped enormously.

• Gipfelhöhe: 6812 Meter
• Dauer des Aufstiegs: 8 Stunden und 24 Minuten
• Vorheriger Rekord: um 6 Minuten unterboten

Billi Bierling, the head of the Himalayan Database, confirmed this remarkable achievement. For Laura, mountaineering was not just a sporting competition, but also an opportunity to be in the here and now and concentrate on what was important. Taufig Khalil, who compiled the book, expresses his sadness at the loss in his foreword and regrets that he was never able to personally present the book to Laura, which he had planned to do in October.

Laura Dahlmeier will be remembered not only as an athlete, but also as an inspiring personality who teaches us to live passion and dedication. Her legacy will live on through her written work and the memories of the many people she touched.

Further information is available at Northern Bavaria and Deutschlandfunk culture to find.