The family of a two-time olympic champion who tragically died during a mountaineering expedition has revealed that her final wish was that "no one may risk their life to recover her."
On July 28, 2023, at about 5,700 meters on Laila Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram, former Olympic biathlete Laura Dahlmeier was hit by falling rocks during a mountaineering expedition. Her climbing partner Marina Krauss immediately activated rescue procedures, but the remote, unstable conditions prevented a safe recovery of her body. A rescue helicopter reached the site only on the morning of July 29 after persistent rockfalls, poor visibility, and adverse weather forced the operation to halt after dark.
Dahlmeier, who was 31 at the time of the accident, had retired from biathlon in 2019 at the age of 25 after recurring illnesses and a declining interest in the sport. During her competitive career she won the overall World Cup title in the 2016–2017 season, earned 15 medals across five World Championships, and secured 20 World Cup race victories.
After retiring from professional biathlon, Dahlmeier turned her focus to mountaineering. She became a certified mountain and ski guide and joined her local mountain rescue service while also taking on challenging ascents and mountain running events. In recent months she had prepared for projects on peaks such as Laila Peak, where the terrain—marked by unstable rock formations and frequent avalanches—proved fatal.
While nearing the summit with Krauss on the day of the accident, Dahlmeier was struck by a sudden rockfall just 300 meters from the top. The impact left little chance for survival, and she died on the spot. Krauss immediately issued an urgent distress call that prompted local climbers and high-altitude porters to attempt a rescue. However, continuing rockfalls, strong winds, and heavy seasonal rains forced the rescuers to withdraw. "It was Laura Dahlmeier's express and written wish that in a case like this, no one may risk their life to recover her," said a representative from her management, according to a BBC News report.
The area's remoteness further complicated rescue efforts. Military helicopters were placed on standby, but poor weather prevented takeoff, and aerial reconnaissance revealed no signs of life. Authorities eventually ended the search, and Dahlmeier's family supported her wish that her body remain on the mountain.
"Ambassador of our country in the world and role model for peaceful, joyful and fair coexistence across borders," said German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, according to a BBC News report. "Bavaria mourns a queen of winter sports. Laura embodied her homeland with ambition, success and humility," said Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder, according to Tagesschau.
At the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018, Dahlmeier won gold medals in the sprint and pursuit events and a bronze in the individual race. Fellow athletes, sporting associations and public figures expressed sorrow over her untimely death.
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