Olympic Star Dahlmeier Dead After Climbing Accident

Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died aft a mountaineering mishap successful Pakistan.

The 31-year-old German was caught successful rockfall during an expedition successful nan Karakoram mountains connected Monday.

Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, called emergency services aft nan accident, which occurred astatine astir 5,700 metres (18,700 feet).

Rescue teams, containing master climbers from Germany and nan United States, instantly began a rescue ngo but their searches were hindered by adverse upwind conditions.

Dahlmeier's guidance institution confirmed connected Wednesday that she had died.

"A betterment cognition was launched but yet called disconnected connected nan evening of 29 July," her representatives told Germany's Die Welt newspaper.

Her guidance said that Dahlmeier had died connected 28 July - nan time of nan accident.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation said Dahlmeier was "more than an Olympic champion - she was personification pinch heart, cognition and vision".

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry said Dahlmeier's decease is "deeply shocking for each of america successful nan Olympic movement".

She added: "She mislaid her life successful her beloved mountains. She will beryllium remembered forever."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Dahlmeier was an "ambassador for our state astir nan world and a domiciled exemplary for peaceful, joyful and adjacent coexistence crossed borders".

Dahlmeier, an knowledgeable mountaineer, represented Germany astatine 2 Winter Olympics, winning 2 golds and 1 bronze badge successful Pyeongchang successful 2018.

She was nan first female to triumph nan sprint and pursuit events astatine nan aforesaid Games and won a further 15 medals, including 7 gold, crossed 5 World Championships earlier retiring from title successful May 2019.