Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis dies at 29
Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis died after collapsing at the World Games in Chengdu in China. He was 29.
The International World Games Association, in a joint statement with the Local Organizing Committee of The World Games 2025 Chengdu and the International Orienteering Federation, confirmed the news.
"Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during the Men's Middle Distance competition of Orienteering on the morning of Friday, 8 August 2025 in Chengdu, China, during the 12th edition of The World Games," the organizations said. "Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away on 12 August 2025."
No cause of death was specified.
IOF President Tom Hollowell said he's not able to "adequately describe in words the unfathomable depth of sadness in this tragic loss of life."
“Our thoughts are with all who mourn Mattia. I encourage the global orienteering community to honour his memory," Holowell added.
Orienteering is a sport in which athletes race across unfamiliar terrain using only a map and compass. It tests their problem-solving skills and navigation abilities while racing against time.
According to the Olympics website, Debertolis was a keen cross-country skier and footballer as a child, but pursued elite orienteering due to his love for navigating.
He was also a civil engineer, with studies in progress for a PhD at the university in Stockholm, where he lived and was part of the orienteering club IFK Lidingö.
Debertolis was a member of the Italian Orienteering Federation (FISO) team at the 2025 World Games. He competed in numerous World Championships and World Cups.
One of his career highlights was contributing to Italy’s fifth-place finish in the Relay at the 2022 World Cup Final.
FISO said that during the mountain bike orienteering races in Poland, the awards ceremony will feature flags flown at half-mast in honor of Debertolis, per CNN.
The IWGA, LOC, and IOF, in their joint statement, said they will continue to support the family of Mattia Debertolis and the Orienteering Community "in every possible way."
