Laura Dahlmeier, a double Olympic biathlon champion, has died at the age of 31 following a mountaineering accident, her management company has announced.
During her successful career, Dahlmeier, 31, won two Olympic golds in the winter version of the games and seven world titles.
However, according to reports in Germany, she was hit by falling rocks when on a mountain climb in the Karakoram Mountains in Pakistan on Monday.
'Based on the findings from the helicopter overflight and the rope partner's description of the severity of her injuries, it can be assumed that Laura Dahlmeier died immediately,' her management company said in statement.
'Recovering the body is too risky for the rescue workers under the current difficult conditions with rockfall and a change in the weather on Laila Peak and is not feasible.
'Her wish was to leave her body on the mountain in this case. This is also in the interest of her relatives, who also expressly request that Laura's final wishes be respected.
'We bid farewell to a wonderful person. Laura enriched our lives and the lives of many with her warm and straightforward manner.
'She showed us that it's worth standing up for your own dreams and goals and always staying true to yourself.
'We are deeply grateful, dear Laura, that we were allowed to share in your life. Our shared memories give us strength and courage to continue on our path.'
During Dahlmeier's career, the 31-year-old won her two gold medals in the Sprint and Pursuit events at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
She also took a bronze medal home in the 15km individual pursuit, and she competed in the 2014 games in Sochi.
The German retired from competing in May 2019, claiming she no longer had the 100 per cent passion necessary for the sport.
She has since dipped her toes into punditry, working for ZDF, while she also released a children's book in 2019 which was titled: 'The Climate Gang: Laura Dahlmeier and friends working for nature'.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation expressed their condolences in a statement.
'With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to Laura Dahlmeier, her sudden death leaves us speechless,’ the statement read.
'She was more than an Olympic champion – she was a person with heart, conviction, and vision. Your story will live on, Laura.'