https://arab.news/rsaaf
- Laura Dahlmeier, double Olympic biathlon champion, was struck by falling rocks while climbing Laila Peak
- Poor weather prevented a helicopter rescue mission before two international teams confirmed her death
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the death of German double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier, who died earlier this week in a mountaineering accident on Laila Peak in the country’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The 31-year-old athlete was struck by falling rocks while climbing with a partner at around 5,700 meters in the Hushe Valley on July 28.
“Laura was an inspiration for athletes and dreamers across the globe,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
“Her indomitable spirit and legacy as a true role model will shine on forever,” it added. “We extend our deepest condolences to her family, loved ones and the German people.”
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said poor weather conditions had prevented a helicopter rescue mission. Two international teams later confirmed her death on the mountain, which stands at 6,069 meters in the Karakoram range.
Dahlmeier’s body was not recovered in line with her previously expressed wishes, her management said. Her climbing partner, Marina Eva Krauss, was unharmed and has since returned to base camp in good health, according to the local authorities.
A winner of two gold medals at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Dahlmeier retired from professional biathlon in 2019 at the age of 25.
Tributes have poured in from sporting bodies across the world, including the International Olympic Committee and the International Biathlon Union.
Germany’s Olympic Sports Confederation described Dahlmeier as “more than an Olympic champion,” calling her someone “with heart, attitude and vision.”