Olympic Gold Medalist Missing After Karakoram Rockfall

Update: German Olympic star Laura Dahlmeier was confirmed dead on Wednesday following a mountaineering accident in Pakistan. Adverse weather conditions had hampered attempts to rescue the former Olympic champion.

German Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier has been seriously injured during a climbing expedition on Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. The accident occurred on July 28, 2025, around noon local time, when Dahlmeier was struck by falling rocks at approximately 5,700 meters altitude. She was climbing in alpine style with her partner, Marina Eva, when the rockfall happened.

Following the accident, Eva descended the mountain with assistance and was able to report the incident, but contact with Dahlmeier was lost. On July 29, a Pakistani military helicopter carried out an aerial search but found no visible signs of life. Due to difficult terrain and the onset of darkness, rescue efforts were temporarily suspended, with plans to resume at first light on July 30. The Pakistan Alpine Club has confirmed the ongoing operation, and both local authorities and international climbers are involved in coordinating the complex rescue.

Dahlmeier, 31, is a two-time Olympic champion in biathlon, having won gold in the 7.5 km sprint and 10 km pursuit at the 2018 Winter Olympics, along with a bronze in the 15 km individual event. She retired from professional sport in 2019 at the age of 25 and has since worked as a sports commentator and authored a children’s book on climate change. Passionate about mountaineering, she had taken up alpine-style ascents – lightweight, unsupported climbs without fixed ropes or porters – which, while purist in philosophy, expose climbers to greater objective risks.

The situation highlights the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, particularly in remote areas where rescue operations are logistically difficult and time-sensitive. The international climbing community is closely monitoring developments and hoping for a successful evacuation and recovery.