Olympic biathlon champion dies in mountaineering accident

Laura Dahlmeier, a seven-time world champion German biathlete, died Monday while climbing in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan, her management company told the International Olympic Committee. Rescue teams were not able to reach the remote area until the following day. Her death was confirmed on Wednesday. She was 31 years old. The German Olympic Sports Confederation was shocked by Dahlmeier’s death. The group’s president, Thomas Weikert, said the entire German sports community was in mourning.

Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner when she was struck by a sudden rockfall at an altitude of about 18,700 feet, the Alpine Club of Pakistan told ESPN.

What was Dahlmeier known for? The athlete won the women’s biathlon World Cup in 2017. The biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting in a race format, with penalty laps for missed targets. In addition to winning more medals at world championships, Dahlmeier also won two gold medals and a bronze in the biathlon at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. She retired in 2019 and later became a certified mountain and ski guide.

Dig deeper: Listen to Onize Oduah’s report about Uganda burying an Olympic athlete last year.