Germany mourns Laura Dahlmeier

(d.de) – Double Olympic champion and seven-time world champion in biathlon, Laura Dahlmeier, died in a mountain accident in Pakistan on Monday. The death of the 31-year-old has caused widespread shock in Germany – in the world of sport as well as in politics. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid tribute to her as “an ambassador of our country to the world”, while Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed his sadness. On X, he wrote: “As a world and Olympic champion, she achieved feats that have become part of our country’s biathlon history. We mourn with her family, friends and companions.” Dahlmeier retired from professional sport at the height of her career aged just 26 to pursue her passion for mountaineering. Her courage to take her own path has made her a role model for many. The German Ski Association remembers her as “an extraordinary person full of joy, courage and warmth – on and off the track.”