US EditionItalian Athlete Mattia Debertolis Dies Aged 29 After Collapsing at World Games
SICHUAN, CHINA, AUG 11 – Mattia Debertolis collapsed during intense heat above 30°C at the men's middle-distance event and died four days later despite immediate expert medical care, officials said.
- Event organizers confirmed on Tuesday that Mattia Debertolis, an Italian orienteering athlete, died four days after collapsing during the 2025 World Games in Chengdu.
- On Friday morning, Debertolis collapsed during the men’s middle-distance final on a six-kilometre course amid temperatures above 30 degrees.
- Despite expert medical efforts at a leading Chinese medical institution, he could not be saved and passed away Tuesday.
- The International Orienteering Federation , IWGA and local organizing committee said they were struck by the tragedy and pledged to support Debertolis’ family and the orienteering community.
- As an athlete, Debertolis competed internationally since 2014 in World Championships and World Cups and was ranked 137th in the Orienteering World Rankings, while pursuing a PhD in Stockholm.
60 Articles
60 Articles
Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis, 29, dies after collapsing at World Games in China
Orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis, who had competed in several world championships and world cup events, was taken to hospital after being found unconscious during the men's middle-distance competition last Friday.
Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis dies aged 29 after collapsing at World Games
By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing at the World Games, organizers said on Tuesday. In a joint statement from the International World Games Association, the local organizing committee (LOC) and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), the World Games said that the 29-year-old was found unconscious during the men’s middle-distance race in the orienteering competition on August…
Italian athlete dies during competition at World Games in China
By Sam Davies Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died on Tuesday after being found unresponsive during competition at the World Games in China’s Chengdu, organisers said. Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis at the 2025 World Orienteering Championship in Kuopio, Finland, in July 2025. Photo: Kristina Lindgren/International Orienteering Federation. The 29-year-old was discovered unconscious during an orienteering event on August 8 and di…
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