Italian orienteering athlete mourned

The international sports community is mourning the tragic death of Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis after an all-out medical effort failed to save him following his collapse while competing at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu.

The 29-year-old Debertolis was found unconscious during the men's middle-distance orienteering competition on Friday. Despite receiving immediate medical assistance at the scene and being transferred to intensive care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away on Tuesday, according to a joint statement from the International World Games Association, the local organizing committee of the Chengdu Games and the International Orienteering Federation.

IOF president Tom Hollowell expressed his deepest condolences to Debertolis' family, friends and orienteering clubs.

"I am not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable depth of sadness in this tragic loss of life," Hollowell said. "Our thoughts are with all who mourn Mattia. I encourage the global orienteering community to honor his memory."

"The World Games Family, the local organizing committee and the IOF are struck by this tragedy and extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the athlete, and the whole orienteering community," read the joint statement by the three organizations.

Debertolis was a member of the Italian national team and had participated in several world championships and World Cup events.

Debertolis was not only an elite athlete, but also a highly skilled civil engineer settled in Stockholm, where he was a member of the orienteering club IFK Lidingo. In addition to his athletic career, he supported his family running a hotel in Primiero in the Dolomites.

Orienteering is considered a physically demanding sport and involves navigating diverse terrain using a map and compass.

Sun Xiaochen