Tragedy at World Games: Italian athlete found unconscious during race
Photo: Mattia Debertolis (orienteering.sport)
Italian orienteering competitor Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing on the course during the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, according to the official website of the International Orienteering Federation.
Incident during the final
On August 8, Debertolis was competing in the men's orienteering final. The race took place in temperatures exceeding +30°C. Midway through the course, the athlete collapsed and was unable to continue.
Initially, the official results listed him as "did not finish" along with 11 other participants. However, when there was no word from the athlete, a search was launched, and he was found unconscious on the competition route.
Four days fighting for his life
Organizers reported that the Italian received emergency medical assistance and was taken to one of China's leading medical facilities. However, on August 12, four days after the incident, the athlete died. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The 29-year-old Debertolis represented Italy's national team at the world championships and the World Cup stages in orienteering. In 2022, he helped his team place fifth in the relay final of the World Cup.
Earlier, we reported on the death of Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier, whose body was found in the mountains.
