Competitor from Italy perishes during World Games held in China
Mattia Debertolis, a 29-year-old Italian orienteering athlete, tragically passed away on August 12, four days after collapsing during a competition at the World Games in Chengdu, China. The specific cause of his death has not been publicly disclosed by the event organizers or authorities.
The World Games, a multisport event held every four years for disciplines not included in the Olympics, is currently in its 12th edition and runs until August 17. Over 4,000 athletes are competing in 253 events. The orienteering event, which took place about 50 kilometers outside of central Chengdu, was organized by the World Games organizers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
Debertolis was participating in the men's middle-distance orienteering, the first medal event of the Chengdu Games. The six-kilometer course featured 180 meters of ascent and 20 control points that athletes must visit. Despite the challenging hot and humid conditions, the winner of the event was Riccardo Rancan from Switzerland, who completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
Official joint statements from the International World Games Association (IWGA), the Local Organising Committee (LOC), and the IOF confirmed the tragic event but did not specify the medical reason for Debertolis's collapse or death. Available reports note the extreme heat and humidity at the event, with temperatures reportedly reaching up to 37°C (99°F). However, no direct causal link has been confirmed.
Debertolis, who was from Primiero in eastern Italy, had been competing since 2014, according to the IOF website. He was ranked 137th in the men's Orienteering World Rankings. The orienteering community and his family are being supported by the organizers in every possible way.
Orienteering is a sport where athletes navigate an unmarked course with a map and compass, punching in at designated spots along the route in the quickest time. Debertolis had participated in several World Championships and World Cups as part of the Italian team.
Eleven other athletes, including Debertolis, were listed as "Did Not Finish" in the official results. Rancan, the winner of the event, mentioned the challenging hot and humid conditions.
Debertolis was studying for a PhD at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The sporting world and the orienteering community mourn his loss.
- Despite the challenging weather conditions during the orienteering event at the World Games, Riccardo Rancan from Switzerland managed to clinch the first medal of the Chengdu Games, completing the six-kilometer course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
- Tragically, eleven athletes, including Mattia Debertolis, who was a recognized athlete in the orienteering community, did not finish the event due to various reasons, with Debertolis's specific cause of collapse and subsequent death yet to be disclosed.
