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Laura Dahlmeier

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Laura Dahlmeier
Dahlmeier in 2018
Personal information
NationalityGerman
Born(1993-08-22)22 August 1993
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
Died28 July 2025(2025-07-28) (aged 31)
Laila Peak, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Websitewww.laura-dahlmeier.de
Professional information
SportBiathlon
ClubSC Partenkirchen
World Cup debut2013
Olympic Games
Teams2 (2014, 2018)
World Championships
Teams5 (2013–2019)
World Cup
Seasons7 (2012–13 – 2018–19)
Individual races124
All races152
Overall titles1: 2016–17
Discipline titles2:
1 Individual (2016–17)
1 Pursuit (2016–17)
Medal record
Women's biathlon
Representing  Germany
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 2 0 1
World Championships 7 3 5
Total 9 3 6
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang 7.5 km sprint
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang 10 km pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Pyeongchang 15 km individual
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kontiolahti 4 × 6 km relay
Gold medal – first place 2016 Oslo 10 km pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hochfilzen 10 km pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hochfilzen 15 km individual
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hochfilzen 12.5 km mass start
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hochfilzen 4 × 6 km relay
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hochfilzen Mixed relay
Silver medal – second place 2015 Kontiolahti 10 km pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2016 Oslo 12.5 km mass start
Silver medal – second place 2017 Hochfilzen 7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Oslo 15 km individual
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Oslo 7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Oslo 4 × 6 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Östersund 7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Östersund 10 km pursuit
World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Sprint 4 9 4
Pursuit 11 4 3
Mass Start 4 5 2
Individual 3 0 2
Relay 12 3 3
Mixed Relay 1 1 0
Total 35 22 14
  • WC podiums including the Olympic games and World championships races
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Obertilliach 12.5 km individual
Gold medal – first place 2013 Obertilliach 7.5 km sprint
Gold medal – first place 2013 Obertilliach 3 × 6 km relay
Silver medal – second place 2013 Obertilliach 10 km pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Nové Město 10 km pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Nové Město 3 × 6 km relay
European Youth Olympic Winter Festival
Gold medal – first place 2011 Liberec 10 km individual
Gold medal – first place 2011 Liberec 6 km sprint
Gold medal – first place 2011 Liberec Mixed relay

Laura Dahlmeier (German pronunciation: [ˈlaʊ.̯ʁa ˈdaːlˌmaɪ̯ɐ] ⓘ; 22 August 1993 – 28 July 2025) was a German biathlete. Dahlmeier started in her first World Cup races in the 2012–13 season.[1] In 2014, she participated in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She won a record of five gold medals at the World Championships of 2017. In 2018, she became the first woman to win the biathlon sprint and pursuit in the same Olympics.[2] During her career she won a total of two golds and one bronze at the Olympics, seven gold medals, three silver medals and five bronze medals at World Championships, one overall World Cup and two discipline World Cup titles.

Dahlmeier announced her retirement from competition in May 2019, at the age of 25.[3] In October 2019, she released a children's book. She died on 28 July 2025 in a mountaineering accident in northern Pakistan.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Born on 22 August 1993 in the Bavarian ski-town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen,[5][6] Dahlmeier began skiing at a young age and took up biathlon by the age of 7. She performed well as a teenaged biathlete, and at the age of 17½, she won gold in all three races (10km individual, 6km sprint, and the mixed relay) at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Liberec.[5]

Career

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Biathlon career

[edit]

At the 2013 Biathlon Junior World Championships in Obertilliach, Austria, Dahlmeier took three gold medals in the individual, sprint and relay, as well as a silver in the pursuit. Following this, she was selected for the German team in the women's relay at the 2013 Biathlon World Championships: racing in the third leg, she shot clean and overcame a 38-second deficit to hand over with Germany in the lead. Dahlmeier completed her first full World Cup campaign the following season: she enjoyed further success in World Cup relays, however she was unable to secure a solo podium finish, and did not make an impact at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.[3]

Dahlmeier's start to her 2014–15 season was delayed due to injury, and she made her World Cup season debut at Pokljuka in December 2014. Two months later she took her first World Cup win in Nové Město na Moravě, following which she took another six podiums, including a second win, and her first two senior World Championship medals, a silver in the pursuit and a gold in the women's relay.[3]

In 2015–16, she took five World Cup wins, and at the World Championships in Oslo she took her first solo gold medal in the pursuit along with a silver in the mass start and bronzes in the sprint, individual and women's relay.[3]

Dahlmeier enjoyed her best season in 2016–17, winning the overall World Cup and winning five golds and a silver at the World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, missing out on a sixth gold by four seconds in the sprint to Gabriela Koukalová. She became the first woman in biathlon history to win five gold medals at a World Championships.[7]

The following season Dahlmeier's focus was on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang: At the Games she became the second German woman to take the Olympic gold in the sprint, shooting clean as one of only three competitors to hit all targets in windy conditions, before doubling up with a second title in the pursuit and additionally taking a bronze in the individual.[3] Dahlmeier received the Silver Laurel Leaf shortly after she won her first Olympic gold medal. She was the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit gold medals at the same Winter Olympics.[8]

Dahlmeier's 2018–19 season was disrupted by illness. However, she took a World Cup race win at Antholz in January 2019 before going on to take two bronzes at the 2019 World Championships in Östersund in the sprint and the pursuit. In May 2019, after the end of the season, she announced her retirement from competition, stating that she no longer feels the 100% passion necessary for professional biathlon.[3][9]

Post-biathlon career

[edit]

On 18 October 2019, Dahlmeier released the children's book Die Klima Gang: Laura Dahlmeier und Freunde im Einsatz für die Natur, which she co-authored.[10]

For the 2019–20 Biathlon World Cup season, she served as an expert commentator for the German broadcaster ZDF.[11]

After retiring from competitive biathlon, Dahlmeier competed in mountain running. In June 2019 she won the 39-kilometer Basetrail XL race of the Zugspitz Ultratrail in Grainau, Germany.[12] In September 2019 she won and set a new women's course record in the 52-kilometer Karwendelmarsch race from Scharnitz to Pertisau in Austria.[13] In November of that year she placed 27th at the 2019 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Argentina.[14]

Dahlmeier became a state-certified ski and mountain guide in 2023 and was a volunteer for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue team.[8]

Death

[edit]

On 28 July 2025, Dahlmeier suffered a rockfall accident while mountaineering, with companion and rope partner Marina Eva Krauss on Laila Peak, Hushe Valley, Karakoram, Pakistan.[4] It was initially believed that she had been seriously injured and so a rescue operation was launched, but crews were unable to reach her location due to poor weather conditions.[15] On 30 July 2025, Dahlmeier's management confirmed that she had died during the accident;[4] they also said Dahlmeier had expressly wished that no-one should risk their life to recover her in the event of an accident and that her body should remain on the mountain.[16][17]

On several mountains in the region, the remains of climbers who perished in accidents have been left behind, as recovery is no longer possible due to the difficult terrain or adverse weather conditions.[18] The ongoing border conflict with India further complicated recovery efforts, as only the Pakistani military was permitted to operate helicopters in the area.[19]

Biathlon results

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All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.[20] On 17 May 2019, she announced her retirement from biathlon.[21]

Olympic Games

[edit]

3 medals (2 gold, 1 bronze)

Year Age Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay Single mixed relay
Russia 2014 Sochi 21 13th 46th 30th — 10th DSQ —
South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang 25 Bronze Gold Gold 16th 8th 4th
*The mixed relay was added as an event in 2014.

World Championships

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15 medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)

Year Age Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay Single mixed relay
Czech Republic 2013 Nové Město 20 — — — — 5th — —
Finland 2015 Kontiolahti 22 6th 4th Silver 7th Gold —
Norway 2016 Oslo 23 Bronze Bronze Gold Silver Bronze —
Austria 2017 Hochfilzen 24 Gold Silver Gold Gold Gold Gold
Sweden 2019 Östersund 26 4th Bronze Bronze 6th 4th — —
*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.
**The single mixed relay was added as an event in 2019.

Junior World Championships

[edit]
Year Age Sprint Pursuit Relay Mixed relay
Czech Republic 2011 Nové Město 18 12th 14th Bronze Bronze
Finland 2012 Kontiolahti 19 16th 37th 34th 6th
Austria 2013 Obertilliach 20 Gold Gold Silver Gold

European Youth Olympic Winter Festival

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Year Age Individual Sprint Mixed relay
Czech Republic 2011 Liberec 18 Gold Gold Gold

World Cup

[edit]
Season Overall Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start
Races Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position
2012–13 7/26 220 35th — — 101 32nd 69 36th 50 29th
2013–14 17/22 410 15th 54 12th 138 23rd 145 14th 73 14th
2014–15 17/25 725 8th 81 8th 292 8th 224 4th 128 12th
2015–16 18/25 786 6th 80 10th 213 9th 265 5th 228 3rd
2016–17 24/26 1211 1st 180 1st 372 2nd 411 1st 254 2nd
2017–18 19/22 730 4th — — 252 4th 271 3rd 207 2nd
2018–19 15/25 554 12th 75 9th 191 10th 163 14th 125 13th

Shooting statistics

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Season Overall Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start Relay
2012–13 90.0 (117/130) 0 (0/0) 96.7 (29/30) 82.5 (33/40) 87.5 (35/40) 99.9 (20/20)
2013–14 90.8 (336/370) 93.3 (56/60) 87.1 (61/70) 90.7 (127/140) 86.7 (52/60) 99.9(40/40)
2014–15 92.7 (290/313) 95.0 (38/40) 90.0 (63/70) 92.0 (92/100) 95.0 (57/60) 93.0 (40/43)
2015–16 91.6 (294/321) 90.0 (36/40) 85.0 (51/60) 95.0 (95/100) 92.0 (92/100) 95.2 (20/21)
2016–17 88.6 (444/501) 91.7 (55/60) 91.3 (73/80) 90.6 (145/160) 91.0 (91/100) 79.2 (80/101)
2017–18 90.6 (396/437) 87.5 (35/40) 90.0 (72/80) 94.3 (132/140) 89.2 (107/120) 87.7 (50/57)
2018–19 87.2 (251/288) 92.5 (37/40) 94.0 (47/50) 91.3 (73/80) 81.3 (65/80) 76.3 (29/38)

Key:Hits/shots, percentage. Results in all IBU World Cup races including relay events.[22]

Individual victories

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  • 22 victories – (4 SP, 11 PU, 3 IN, 4 MS)
No. Season Date Location Race Level
1  2014–15 7 February 2015 Czech Republic Nové Město, Czech Republic 7.5 km Sprint World Cup
2 17 March 2015 Russia Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia 12.5 km Mass start World Cup
3  2015–16 12 December 2015 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria 10 km Pursuit World Cup
4 19 December 2015 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia 10 km Pursuit World Cup
5 9 January 2016 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany 10 km Pursuit World Cup
6 10 January 2016 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany 12.5 km Mass Start World Cup
7 6 March 2016 Norway Holmenkollen, Norway 10 km Pursuit World Championships
8  2016–17 30 November 2016 Sweden Östersund, Sweden 15 km Individual World Cup
9 9 December 2016 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia 7.5 km Sprint World Cup
10 10 December 2016 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia 10 km Pursuit World Cup
11 19 January 2017 Italy Antholz, Italy 15 km Individual World Cup
12 12 February 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria 10 km Pursuit World Championships
13 15 February 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria 15 km Individual World Championships
14 19 February 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria 12.5 km Mass Start World Championships
15 2 March 2017 South Korea Pyeongchang, South Korea 7.5 km Sprint World Cup
16 4 March 2017 South Korea Pyeongchang, South Korea 10 km Pursuit World Cup
17 11 March 2017 Finland Kontiolahti, Finland 10 km Pursuit World Cup
18  2017–18 16 December 2017 France Annecy, France 10 km Pursuit World Cup
19 20 January 2018 Italy Antholz, Italy 10 km Pursuit World Cup
20 10 February 2018 South Korea Pyeongchang, South Korea 7.5 km Sprint Winter Olympic Games
21 12 February 2018 South Korea Pyeongchang, South Korea 10 km Pursuit Winter Olympic Games
22  2018–19 27 January 2019 Italy Antholz-Anterselva, Italy 12.5 km Mass Start World Cup
*Results are from IBU races which include the Biathlon World Cup, Biathlon World Championships and the Winter Olympic Games.

Relay victories

[edit]
No. Season Date Location Level Teammate
1 2012–13 10 March 2013 Russia Sochi, Russia World Cup Henkel, Sachenbacher-Stehle, Neureuther
2 2013–14 12 December 2013 France Le Grand-Bornand, France Henkel, Preuss, Hildebrand
3 8 January 2014 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany Sachenbacher-Stehle, Preuss, Hildebrand
4 2014–15 25 January 2015 Italy Antholz, Italy Kummer, Preuss, Hildebrand
5 13 March 2015 Finland Kontiolahti, Finland World Championships Hinz, Preuss, Hildebrand
6 2016–17 11 December 2016 Slovenia Pokljuka, Slovenia World Cup Hinz, Hammerschmidt, Hildebrand
7 12 January 2017 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany Hinz, Hammerschmidt, Preuss
8 22 January 2017 Italy Antholz, Italy Hinz, Hammerschmidt, Hildebrand
9 9 February 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria World Championships Hinz, Peiffer, Schempp
10 17 February 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria Hinz, Hammerschmidt, Hildebrand)
11 2017–18 10 December 2017 Austria Hochfilzen, Austria World Cup Hinz, Hildebrand, Hammerschmidt
12 13 January 2018 Germany Ruhpolding, Germany Preuss, Herrmann-Wick, Hildebrand
13 2018–19 8 February 2019 Canada Canmore, Canada Hildebrand, Hinz, Herrmann-Wick

Overall record

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Result Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed
relay 		Total
Individual events Team events All events
1st place 3 4 11 4 12 1 22 13 35
2nd place – 9 4 5 3 1 18 4 22
3rd place 2 4 3 2 3 – 11 3 14
Podiums 5 17 18 11 18 2 51 20 71
4–10 5 13 13 9 4 1 40 5 45
11–20 3 6 6 4 1 – 19 1 20
21–40 – 7 2 3 – – 12 - 12
41–60 1 1 1 – – – 3 - 3
Others – – – – – – - - 0
DNS 1 – – – – – 1 - 1
DNF – – – – – – - - 0
DSQ – – – – – 1 - 1 1
Starts 15 44 40 27 23 4 126 27 153
* Results in IBU World Cup races, Olympics and World Championships.

References

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  1. ^ "Über mich (German)". Laura Dahlmeier (personal homepage). Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Martin Fourcade, Laura Dahlmeier win biathlon gold medals". Espn.com. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Laura Dahlmeier Retires". International Biathlon Union. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier dead after mountaineering accident in Pakistan". The Globe and Mail. 30 July 2025. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Laura DAHLMEIER". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  6. ^ D'Angelo, Bob (30 July 2025). "Laura Dahlmeier, 2-time Olympic biathlon champion, dies after mountaineer accident". WSOC-TV. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Germany's Dahlmeier wins record fifth biathlon gold". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Olympic champ Laura Dahlmeier dies in mountaineering accident". ESPN. 30 July 2025.
  9. ^ Die Gier weicht der Ruhe, sueddeutsche, 20190517
  10. ^ Bachem, J. P. (30 September 2019). Klimagang: Laura Dahlmeier und ihre Freunde im Einsatz für die Natur (in German). Köln: J.P. Bachem Editionen. ISBN 978-3-414-82560-5.
  11. ^ Platvoet, Dirk; Velde, Gerard van der; Dick, Jaimie; Li, Shuqiang (January 2009). "Als TV-Expertin – Laura Dahlmeier verstärkt ZDF-Team". Crustaceana. 82 (6): 703–720. doi:10.1163/156854009X423201. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  12. ^ "SALOMON ZUGSPITZ ULTRATRAIL 2019". Plan B Registration. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Laura Dahlmeier Siegt beim 11. Karwendelmarsch". Bergsteiger.de. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  14. ^ "WORLD LONG DISTANCE MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHALLENGE / CHAMPIONSHIPS – Women individual (41.5 km/+-2184m/84 participants)". World Mountain Running Association. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  15. ^ Ali, Mushtaq (29 July 2025). "German Olympic champion Dahlmeier seriously injured in Pakistan mountaineering accident". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Rettungsmission eingestellt: Ex-Biathletin Laura Dahlmeier stirbt bei Bergunglück auf 5700 Metern". Tagesspiegel.de. 30 July 2025.
  17. ^ "German Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier dies after mountaineering accident in Pakistan". The Guardian. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  18. ^ Gerhard Pfeil (31 July 2025), "Bleibt die Leiche von Laura Dahlmeier für immer am Laila Peak?", Der Spiegel, ISSN 2195-1349, retrieved 31 July 2025
  19. ^ Milan Sako (1 August 2025). "Laura Dahlmeier ist tot: Sie starb bei dem, was sie liebte". Ausgsburger Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  20. ^ International Biathlon Union. Laura Dahlmeier. IBU Datacenter. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  21. ^ Karolos Grohmann, Alexander Smith (17 May 2019). "Double Olympic champion Dahlmeier retires at 25". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Laura Dahlmeier, photos". biathlon.com.ua. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laura Dahlmeier.
Awards
Preceded by German Sportswoman of the Year
2017 		Succeeded by
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