2018 Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier killed in climbing accident in Pakistan

German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died on a mountain in northern Pakistan after a climbing accident at remote site that rescuers struggled to reach because of bad weather, a local government spokesman said Wednesday.

Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medallist, was ascending Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks while climbing with a partner who survived.

Rescuers were able to confirm Dahlmeier's death on Wednesday but not retrieve the body because of unfavorable weather, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan government.

Any final decision on retrieving the body would follow the wishes of Dahlmeier's family, Faraq said. A statement on Dalhmeier's Instagram page said it had been her wish that nobody risk their life to recover her body after an accident.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered his condolences to Dahlmeier's parents, writing that she "was an exceptional sportswoman." He recalled that he presented her with the highest honor on German sport, the Silver Laurel Leaf, shortly after she won her first Olympic gold medal in 2018.

"Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders," he said.

Authorities launched the rescue mission Monday after receiving a distress signal from Dahlmeier's climbing partner, Marina Eva, who managed to descend to base camp with help from rescuers Tuesday.

Dahlmeier's partner had tried for several hours to rescue her, but that wasn't possible because of the difficult terrain and persistent rockfall, the statement on Dahlmeier's Instagram page said. "Her partner, who could no longer hear any signs of life,