Competitor Mattia Debertolis, hailing from Italy, succumbs following a collapse at the World Games hosted in China.
The world of sports was left in shock on August 8, 2025, when Mattia Debertolis, a 29-year-old elite orienteering athlete from Italy, collapsed during the men's middle-distance orienteering competition at the World Games in Chengdu, China. Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at a leading hospital in China, Debertolis passed away four days later on August 12, 2025.
The exact cause of Debertolis' death remains unknown at this time. The International World Games Association, the local organizing committee, and the International Orienteering Federation have all issued statements expressing their condolences, but no official cause of death or medical explanation for his collapse has been released.
Debertolis was a well-known athlete within the orienteering community, with several World Championship and World Cup appearances. He was also a civil engineer and a PhD student at the University of Stockholm. The event where Debertolis collapsed took place in hot and humid conditions, with temperatures reportedly above 30°C and possibly as high as 37°C. This could have contributed to physical stress during the outdoor endurance sport of orienteering.
Tom Hollowell, the President of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), expressed his sorrow over Debertolis' death and offered his sympathies to the athlete's family and friends. The organizers of the World Games have also pledged to continue supporting the family of Debertolis and the orienteering community during this difficult time.
Orienteering is an outdoor sport that combines physical activity with map-reading and problem-solving. Participants navigate between unmarked checkpoints using a map. The World Games is a multisport event that features disciplines not included in the Olympics, and the 2025 event in Chengdu, China, was the latest edition of this prestigious competition.
In orienteering, athletes must navigate quickly and accurately to reach the checkpoints in the shortest possible time. It requires a high level of physical fitness, mental focus, and navigational skills. Debertolis was a talented athlete who had made a name for himself in the sport, and his death has left a void in the orienteering community.
As the investigation into Debertolis' death continues, the focus remains on supporting his family and friends, as well as the wider orienteering community, during this difficult time. The world of sports sends its condolences to all those affected by this tragic loss.
[1] International World Games Association statement on the death of Mattia Debertolis. (2025, August 12). [Link]
[2] Local organizing committee statement on the death of Mattia Debertolis. (2025, August 12). [Link]
[3] International Orienteering Federation statement on the death of Mattia Debertolis. (2025, August 12). [Link]
[4] World Games statement on the death of Mattia Debertolis. (2025, August 12). [Link]
[5] Chengdu Daily report on the death of Mattia Debertolis. (2025, August 12). [Link]
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