German double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died at the age of 31. She passed away after a mountaineering accident in Pakistan, her management and local authorities confirmed on Wednesday, 30 July. 

The accident occurred around noon on Monday, July 28, at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters at Laila Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Tuesday, July 29. Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner when she was struck by a sudden rockfall in the Hushe Valley, part of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Poor weather conditions prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the site.

Dahlmeier, an experienced mountaineer, has represented Germany at two Winter Olympics, winning two golds and one bronze medal in Pyeongchang in 2018.

She was the first woman to win both the sprint and pursuit event at the same Olympics, and won a further 15 medals, including seven golds, across five World Championships before retiring from competition in May 2019 aged 25. 

(Agencies)