Italian Orienteer Mattia Debertolis Dies After Collapsing at World Games in China

Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis has died, four days after collapsing during an orienteering race at the World Games in Chengdu, China. He was 29, Sport360NG reports.

Event organisers said Debertolis was discovered unconscious last Friday during the men’s middle-distance final, held in temperatures exceeding 30°C. Despite receiving urgent treatment at one of China’s top medical facilities, he died on Tuesday.

“The loss is immeasurable,” said International Orienteering Federation president Tom Hollowell. “It’s impossible to put into words the depth of our sadness.”

The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Debertolis, representing the Italian national team, was among 12 competitors listed as “Did Not Finish” in the official results. He had placed fifth in the 2022 World Cup final and was widely respected in the sport.

Away from competition, he was a qualified civil engineer and lived in Sweden, where he was pursuing a PhD at a Stockholm university.

Orienteering blends endurance running with map-reading and navigation skills, requiring athletes to locate checkpoints in outdoor terrain. The World Games, staged every four years, showcase sports not featured in the Olympics.

Organisers said they remain committed to supporting Debertolis’ family and the wider orienteering community following his death.