Italian Orienteer Dies After Collapse at World Games
Tragedy struck the orienteering world as Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis passed away following a collapse during the World Games in Chengdu, China.
The 29-year-old was discovered unconscious by organizers last Friday while participating in an orienteering event. Despite receiving immediate medical attention at a leading Chinese medical institution, Debertolis died on Tuesday, four days after his collapse. The cause of death remains unknown.
Details of the Incident
The World Games, a quadrennial multi-sport event for disciplines not included in the Olympics, saw Debertolis competing in the men's middle-distance final amidst temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius when the incident occurred.
Orienteering, a sport that combines physical endurance with map-reading skills, challenged participants to navigate between checkpoints. Debertolis was among the athletes marked as "Did Not Finish" in the official results.
Background and Accomplishments
A member of the Italian national team and a fifth-place finisher in the 2022 World Cup final, Debertolis was also a qualified civil engineer residing in Sweden and pursuing a PhD in Stockholm.
Support and Condolences
World Games organizers have pledged support to Debertolis's family and the orienteering community.