Italian orienteering star Mattia Debertolis has tragically passed away after collapsing at the World Games in Chengdu, China, last week. The 29-year-old athlete was discovered unconscious by event organizers during an orienteering competition held last Friday. His death occurred four days later, on Tuesday, despite receiving immediate and expert medical care from one of China's top medical facilities.
As of now, the exact cause of Debertolis' collapse remains unknown. The World Games, which is a multi-sport event featuring various sports not included in the Olympics, has previously seen athletes compete in grueling conditions. Debertolis was participating in the men's middle-distance final, where temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, he was among 12 competitors who were marked as "Did Not Finish" in the event results.
Debertolis had achieved notable success in orienteering, having secured 5th place in the World Cup final in 2022 and was recognized as a valuable member of the Italian national team. In their statement, the World Games organizers expressed their condolences and assured that they would provide ongoing support to both Debertolis' family and the broader orienteering community during this difficult time.
