Italian competitor passes away following participation at World Games in Chengdu
A tragic incident occurred at the World Games in Chengdu, China, on August 8, 2025, when Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis collapsed during the men's middle-distance orienteering competition. Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, Debertolis passed away on August 12, 2025.
The International World Games Association (IWGA), the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of The World Games 2025 Chengdu, and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) confirmed the sad news in a joint statement. They expressed their deep sorrow and condolences, with IOF president Tom Hollowell calling the loss "unfathomable." Hollowell encouraged the global orienteering community to honor Debertolis's memory.
Debertolis, who was 29 years old, was not only a skilled orienteer but also a civil engineer pursuing a PhD at a Stockholm university. He was affiliated with the orienteering club IFK Lidingö.
The exact cause of Debertolis's death was not detailed in the statements, but it was confirmed that his collapse during the event and subsequent death after medical intervention took place. The collapse occurred during the first medal event of the Chengdu Games.
This unfortunate incident took place on Tuesday, August 11, and the statement regarding Debertolis was issued on behalf of the IWGA, LOC, and IOF. The World Games in Chengdu, China, were the location of Debertolis's death.
Orienteering, a sport that involves navigating an unmarked course with a map and compass, checking in at points along the route, and aiming to finish in the quickest time, lost a promising young athlete in Mattia Debertolis. His legacy will be remembered by the global orienteering community, who are encouraged to honor his memory as requested by IOF president Tom Hollowell.
[1] [Link to official statement by IWGA, LOC, and IOF] [2] [Link to news article about the incident] [3] [Link to Debertolis's biography on the IOF website] [4] [Link to news article about Debertolis's passing by a major Italian newspaper] [5] [Link to news article about the incident by a major Chinese newspaper]
The unexpected passing of Mattia Debertolis, a talented orienteering athlete, during the first medal event of the World Games in Chengdu, China, on August 11, 2025, has left the global orienteering community in sorrow. Despite his young age of 29, Debertolis was not only an accomplished orienteer but also a civil engineer pursuing a PhD. His legacy will be remembered by all.
