Laura Dahlmeier, the former biathlon Olympic champion, has a deep passion for mountaineering. She enjoys Christmas Eve adventures and humorously addresses misconceptions about her climbing pursuits. After retiring at 25, she embraced newfound freedom and adventure, recently setting a world record on Ama Dablam. Dahlmeier values enriching experiences over records and seeks cultural connections through her travels, having cycled from Garmisch to Istanbul and climbed Mount Olympus spontaneously.
Laura Dahlmeier: From Biathlon Champion to Mountain Adventurer
Laura Dahlmeier, the celebrated Olympic champion in biathlon, has always harbored a profound love for mountaineering. Last autumn, she made headlines with an impressive personal achievement in the Himalayas, a feat she describes as unplanned during her interview with Blickpunkt Sport.
On Christmas Eve, Dahlmeier has a special tradition: “I prefer to go on a tour on December 24th as well, whether it’s a ski tour or ice climbing.” The following day, she typically engages in mountain rescue ski duty, hoping for a calm holiday. As a true mountain enthusiast hailing from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, her passion for the outdoors runs deep.
Rediscovering Joy in the Mountains
Dahlmeier finds humor in the misconceptions surrounding her love for mountaineering. “It’s quite funny,” she shares, reflecting on the comments that suggest she only took up climbing after her biathlon career. “As kids, we were outside in the mountains, did a via ferrata, and explored the Alpspitze.” Even during her peak in biathlon, when she was dominating competitions in 2016 and clinching double Olympic gold in 2018, her heart was always drawn to the freedom and beauty of the mountains.
After retiring from biathlon at just 25, Dahlmeier felt a renewed sense of freedom. “I’ve regained a certain lightness that I lacked as a biathlete,” her longtime colleague Maren Hammerschmidt noted. Dahlmeier echoed this sentiment, stating, “I often get bored when I always do the same thing. I need something new.” A return to competitive biathlon is not on her agenda; instead, she treasures her past accomplishments and embraces new adventures.
Last summer, Dahlmeier unexpectedly set a world record while climbing Ama Dablam in the Himalayas. Initially attempting the summit in 2016 but forced to turn back due to poor conditions, she returned in autumn 2024, this time with a ZDF camera crew. “We finished a bit earlier and had three days of buffer,” she explained, deciding to embark on a solo ascent without filming. She completed the 25-kilometer trek with a vertical gain of 2,355 meters—an accomplishment no woman had achieved before in just twelve hours.
While she acknowledges her record-breaking success, Dahlmeier insists, “I’m not after records.” Instead, she seeks enriching experiences in her mountaineering journey. “At the base camp on Ama Dablam, you’re above the clouds, and looking out of the tent is something very special—a privilege for any mountaineer.” Following her adventures in Nepal, Tajikistan, and Peru, Pakistan is next on her travel itinerary, driven by her desire for adventure and cultural connection.
In a spontaneous burst of adventure, Dahlmeier once cycled from Garmisch to Istanbul, taking a detour to scale Mount Olympus in Greece. “Since I’m already here, I can also go up there,” she thought, and just like that, she ascended to the peak, embodying her spontaneous spirit and love for the mountains.