Laura Dahlmeier was not only an incredible athlete but also a kind-hearted person who shed her light everywhere she went. To celebrate her birthday, we collected stories from fans and the IBU media team. They go to show the true character behind the achievements. Take a moment to remember Laura with the stories!

"My first memory of Laura is her first Olympic gold medal in the sport of PyeongChang 2016. I was only 8 years old and came home from school when my mom told me that Laura had won the first gold medal for Germany. Overnight, I became Laura's greatest fan and the effect she had on my life is gigantic because she showed me what is possible in life when you believe in yourself and ignore comments from your surroundings.

Thanks to Laura, I ran a half-marathon and finished at the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg this year. Laura was a wonderful human and should be a role model for everyone. I will love her forever!"

- @mariokumm on Instagram

"I interviewed Laura many times on video and for print pieces in the first years of her career. A couple of things stand out, as she was always well-spoken, smiled, and laughed easily.

After her first World Cup win, she said, 'Since I was a little child, I always wanted to come to the World Cup and win. Today I did so and it was amazing.'

Yet this one sticks with me. I thought of this conversation immediately when I heard the sad news about her death. In the summer of 2015, she spent time climbing in Yosemite National Park, spending several nights on El Capitan. That trip was one of the first times Laura shared her love of climbing publicly. With a huge smile on her face, she told me about the trip. 'It was a perfect time for me. I love the mountains and I love climbing. We made the big wall; three days on the big wall, just climbing, forgetting everything around... For me, it is very important to be outside, do different things and focus on things other than biathlon.' "

- Jerry Kokesh, IBU Media team

"For me, Hochfilzen 2017 will never be forgotten, especially the moment when I got to drive the mixed relay team from the medal ceremony in the centre of Hochfilzen to their World Championship hotel in St. Jakob. I still remember it so well. There were six of us in the car, with the four stars squeezed together in the back.

We had such a great time, and I was incredibly proud and happy to be the one driving the gold women and men. Thank you to Laura and the team for many wonderful moments alongside this very special memory."

- @steinacherstefan on Instagram

"It was an early morning in Le Grand-Bornand. The blue light and crisp snow made it perfect for some skiing before the competitions, so I seized the chance for a few loops before work. To my surprise, the crowd had already packed the sides of the tracks. Coming from Alpine skiing, my cross-country technique is far from graceful, but as I powered through the loops I managed a few times a week, I suddenly found myself catching up with Laura, who was doing her daily warm-up before her duties as a TV expert. I always feel slightly guilty when I overtake a professional – a legend, in this case – so I tucked in behind her and matched her pace. The crowd was cheering for her as if she were leading the pursuit later that day, and I smiled all the way, pretending the French encouragement was also for me.

Fast forward to this past winter: we met by chance on a quiet afternoon. In conversation, I told her this story, and she responded with the most genuine laughter and a spark in her eyes. She said she’d pay more attention next time we crossed paths on the tracks – and perhaps offer a few tips so I wouldn’t feel so awkward behind her. What struck me was how she made everything seem so simple, and how genuinely curious she was about others: a truly unique trait among the world’s best sports people."

- Giulio Gasparin, IBU Content creator

"I became a fan of this sport as a 4 or 5-year-old through my grandparents. They watch so many races and competitions with me. I have watched probably all of Laura's races in her pro-career, and I remember that I was so fascinated by her way of basically doing this sport, her strength and herself as a person. I was so happy to see her as a TV expert afterwards. As soon as the new season and the first race start, there will be an empty space, and with that, we'll remember her every single time."

- @emi_el_ on Instagram

Photos: IBU Photopool | Dahlmeier