Ex-Olympic champion still missing after climbing accident

Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier remains missing after being "seriously injured" in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan.

Rescue teams were continuing their searches for the German on Wednesday after the 31-year-old was caught in a rockfall in the Karakoram mountains on Monday.

"She is missing. We are searching. No-one knows where she is," said provincial government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq.

Two teams of expert climbers from Germany and the United States have been deployed in the rescue mission, while the Pakistan army are also co-operating in the search.

A helicopter rescue mission was curtailed on Tuesday because of adverse weather conditions.

The accident occurred at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres at Laila Peak on Monday.

Dahlmeier's management told ZDF: "Laura Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner on 28 July when she was caught in the rockfall. The accident took place around noon local time.

"Her partner immediately called emergency services and a rescue operation began immediately."

Dahlmeier, an experienced mountaineer, represented Germany at two Winter Olympics, winning two golds and one bronze medal in Pyeongchang in 2018.

She was the first woman to win the sprint and pursuit events at the same Games, and won a further 15 medals, including seven golds, across five World Championships before retiring from competition in May 2019 aged 25.