Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing during a competition at the World Games in Chengdu, China, last week. He was 29.
Debertolis lost consciousness during the final of the men’s middle-distance orienteering event on Friday. Despite immediate medical intervention and care at one of China’s top medical institutions, he passed away on Tuesday—four days after his collapse.
“It is impossible to adequately describe the unfathomable depth of sadness in this tragic loss of life,” said Tom Hollowell, President of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The race took place in extreme conditions, with temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F). Debertolis was one of 12 athletes listed as “Did Not Finish” in the official results.
A member of the Italian national team, Debertolis achieved notable results in his career, including a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Orienteering World Cup Final. Ranked 137th in the world, he was respected both on and off the course.
Beyond sport, Debertolis was a qualified civil engineer and was pursuing a PhD in Sweden, where he lived and studied at a university in Stockholm.
World Games organisers have pledged continued support for Debertolis’ family and the global orienteering community during this time of mourning.
