Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis has died at the World Games in Chengdu, China, after collapsing during competition, organisers confirmed on Tuesday, August 12.
Debertolis, 29, was found unconscious on August 8 during the
men’s middle-distance orienteering event and passed away four days later,
according to a joint statement from the World Games organisers and the
International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
“Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of
China’s leading medical institutions, he passed away,” the statement said,
without disclosing the cause of death.
Orienteering involves navigating an unmarked course with a
map and compass, hitting designated checkpoints in the shortest possible time.
The event took place about 50 kilometres outside central Chengdu, in intense
heat and humidity with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
Debertolis was competing in the final when he collapsed. The
event’s winner, Switzerland’s Riccardo Rancan, completed the course in 45
minutes and 22 seconds. Debertolis was marked as “Did Not Finish” alongside 11
other athletes.
Ranked 137th in the men’s Orienteering World Rankings,
Debertolis had been active since 2014 and represented Italy in several World
Championships and World Cups.
The World Games, a multisport event held every four years
for disciplines outside the Olympics, is currently in its 12th edition and runs
until August 17.
The organisers and the IOF pledged to “continue to support
the family of Mattia Debertolis and the orienteering community in every
possible way."
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