Sad loss: Biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier dies in a mountain accident

Sad loss: Biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier dies in a mountain accident

Tragic news reaches us from the Karakoram Mountains, where former biathlon world champion Laura Dahlmeier died in a terrible mountain accident on July 28, 2025. At an altitude of around 5,700 meters she was hit by a rockfall. Her climbing partner was able to escape to the base camp uninjured, while Laura stayed behind in the impassable and unstable mountain regions. The rescue operation proved to be extremely difficult as the weather conditions and terrain initially made rescue impossible. Unfortunately her body could not be recovered until the next day, but it was already too late for Laura, who was only 31 years old when she left us.

Laura Dahlmeier, who was born on August 22, 1993 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, not only leaves behind an impressive sporting career, but also a family that is rooted in sport. Her mother, Susi Dahlmeier, was a successful professional mountain biking athlete who won the German Cross-Country Championship in 1990 and the European Downhill Mountain Bike Championship in 1992. Her aunt, Regina Stiefl, was also active in mountain biking and celebrated great success with five German championship titles. Her father, Andreas Dahlmeier, was an alpinist and skier, while her brother Pirmin Dahlmeier is also active in sports.

Dahlmeier's impressive career

Laura Dahlmeier will be remembered above all for her outstanding achievements in biathlon. Her career was marked by great successes: She won a total of seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals at world championships as well as 20 world cup races. Particularly noteworthy is her double victory at the Olympic Games, where she won gold twice and also won the overall World Cup in the 2016/17 season. But she ended her biathlon career on May 17, 2019. The reasons for this were health problems and declining motivation.

Biathlon, an impressive winter sport, combines cross-country skiing and shooting. The athletes have to ski through a route and demonstrate their skills at shooting ranges. Using a special 5.6 mm (.22 caliber) weapon, they target five targets at a distance of 50 meters, with the hit rate being crucial for success. Biathlon has its roots in Scandinavian skiing traditions and was added to the Games as an Olympic discipline in 1960. In 1992, women were finally allowed to compete in this sport, marking another milestone in the history of biathlon. The athletes are known for their endurance, skill and concentration, as every mistake made has consequences.

A thoughtful farewell

Laura Dahlmeier was not only a talented athlete, but also an impressive personality who had expressed a clear wish in the event of an accident in the mountains. In a written order she stipulated that her body should not be recovered so as not to endanger others. This decision reflects her deep-rooted connection to the mountains and testifies to her unwavering spirit.

Her legacy in biathlon and sports will last forever. Laura Dahlmeier will be remembered not only as an athlete, but also as a personality who embodied courage and passion. The world of sports has lost one of its brightest stars.