Laura Dahlmeier’s fatal Karakoram climb remembered by Simon Messner

Former Olympic biathlete Laura Dahlmeier, 31, died on 28 July 2025 after a rockfall struck her on Laila Peak (≈5,700 m) in Pakistan’s Karakoram range while she was mountaineering. Her death was widely mourned in the sports community. In a recent documentary, alpinist Simon Messner, who had spoken with Dahlmeier shortly before the accident, recalled the conversation in which she sought advice on the climb. Messner said, “She called to ask about the route; I had summited it two years earlier,” and described the loss as “overwhelming.” Dahlmeier’s management later announced that her wish was to leave her body on the mountain, a request they said was respected by her family. The incident highlighted the inherent risks of high‑altitude climbing, even for elite athletes.