Latest news with #InternationalOrienteeringFederation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Italian sportsman Mattia Debertolis dies after competing at World Games in China
The Italian sportsman Mattia Debertolis, who competed in foot orienteering, has died after featuring in an event at the World Games in China's southwest city of Chengdu. International Orienteering Federation president Tom Hollowell said in a statement on Tuesday that he was 'not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable depth of sadness in this tragic loss of life.' World Games organizers had previously said that Debertolis, 29, fell unconscious while participating in a men's middle-distance event last Friday. Debertolis was a member of the Italy team and had participated in several World Championships and World Cups. He placed fifth in the 2022 World Cup final relay. ___ AP sports: Fu Ting, The Associated Press
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
29 year old athlete dies during World Games in China after orienteering event: Here's what happened
The 12th edition of the World Games, happening in Chengdu, China (Aug 7–17), took a devastating turn when 29-year-old Italian orienteer Mattia Debertolis tragically passed away. He collapsed during the men's middle-distance orienteering race on August 8 and was found unconscious on the course. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, Mattia sadly passed away four days later on August 12, 2025. If you've never heard of orienteering, no worries, it's like a real-life treasure hunt/survival race combo. Athletes zip across wild terrains with just a map and compass, hitting checkpoints as fast as they can. Super cool, adrenaline-pumping, but also tough on the body. On race day, the heat and humidity were off the charts—temps over 30°C, some reports even say it spiked as high as 37°C out there on the course. Who was Mattia Debertolis? Mattia wasn't just another young athlete chasing podiums. He was part of Italy's national orienteering squad, a civil engineer by training, and a PhD student living in Stockholm. He competed in several World Championships and World Cups, last month alone he reached the final in the middle-distance event in Finland. Orienteering isn't just about reading a map, it's a full-on endurance test. You're running through forests, climbing hills, dodging streams, and making split-second decisions about where to go next. It's like mixing cross-country running with a mental puzzle, and your body has to keep up with both. Endurance is everything here: athletes push their stamina to the max while staying sharp enough not to get lost. Add in unpredictable terrain and weather, and it's easy to see why orienteering is considered one of the toughest outdoor sports. It's brains plus brawn, and only the fittest can truly thrive. Both the World Games organizers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) released joint statements expressing profound grief. They're standing by Mattia's family and the wider orienteering community every step of the way. IOF President Tom Hollowell put it perfectly: he couldn't properly express the 'unfathomable depth of sadness' felt over such a tragic loss. He encouraged the global orienteering family to honor Mattia's memory. This tragic event is a stark reminder of how physical limits can sneak up on you—especially in extreme conditions. Even the strongest athletes can be vulnerable when the heat pushes body temperatures too high, and hydration or response times falter just a bit. For anyone trekking, running, or competing outdoors—especially in heat—this underscores the importance of climate awareness, pre-race conditioning, and immediate medical readiness.
RTHK
7 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Italian orienteering athlete dies at World Games
Italian orienteering athlete dies at World Games Mattia Debertolis was discovered unconscious during the men's middle-distance competition. Photo courtesy of the International Orienteering Federation Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died after being found unresponsive during competition at the World Games in Chengdu, organisers said. The 29-year-old was discovered unconscious during an orienteering event on August 8 and died four days later, said a joint statement from World Games organisers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). The World Games is a multi-sport event held every four years for disciplines not included in the Olympics. "Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away," the statement said. It did not provide details on the cause of death. Debertolis, from Primiero in eastern Italy, was taking part in the final of the men's middle-distance, the first medal event of the Games. Footage from the World Games' social media accounts showed athletes running through crop fields and villages on a largely rural course. The winner, Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan, completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. Debertolis was listed as "Did Not Finish" in official results, along with 11 other athletes. (AFP)
RTHK
7 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Italian orienteering athlete dies at World Games
Italian orienteering athlete dies at World Games Mattia Debertolis was discovered unconscious during the men's middle-distance competition. Photo courtesy of the International Orienteering Federation Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died after being found unresponsive during competition at the World Games in Chengdu, organisers said. The 29-year-old was discovered unconscious during an orienteering event on August 8 and died four days later, said a joint statement from World Games organisers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). The World Games is a multi-sport event held every four years for disciplines not included in the Olympics. "Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away," the statement said. It did not provide details on the cause of death. Debertolis, from Primiero in eastern Italy, was taking part in the final of the men's middle-distance, the first medal event of the Games. Footage from the World Games' social media accounts showed athletes running through crop fields and villages on a largely rural course. The winner, Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan, completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. Debertolis was listed as "Did Not Finish" in official results, along with 11 other athletes. (AFP)
Japan Today
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Italian athlete dies at World Games in China
Volunteers at the World Games in Chengdu Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died on Tuesday at the World Games in Chengdu, China after collapsing during competition, organisers said. Debertolis, 29, was found unconscious during an orienteering event on August 8 and died four days later, said a joint statement from World Games organisers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). The World Games is a multisport event held every four years for disciplines not included in the Olympics. "Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away," the statement said. It did not provide details on the cause of death. Orienteering sees athletes navigate an unmarked course with a map and compass, punching in at designated spots along the route in the quickest time. The event, held about 50 kilometers outside of central Chengdu, took place in intense heat and humidity, with temperatures above 30 degrees. Debertolis, from Primiero in eastern Italy, was taking part in the final of the men's middle-distance event when he collapsed. The six-kilometer course featured 180 meters of ascent and 20 control points that athletes must visit. Footage from the World Games' social media accounts showed athletes running through crop fields and villages on a largely rural course. The winner, Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan, completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. "I needed to acclimatize quickly with hot and humid conditions. I think I managed quite well," Chinese state media quoted Rancan as saying. Debertolis was listed as "Did Not Finish" in official results, along with 11 other athletes. He was ranked 137th in the men's Orienteering World Rankings and had been competing since 2014, according to the IOF website. He participated in several World Championships and World Cups as part of the Italian team. Alongside his training, Debertolis was studying for a PhD at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where he lived. This is the 12th edition of the World Games and it runs until August 17, with approximately 4,000 athletes competing in 253 events. The men's middle-distance orienteering was the first medal event of the Chengdu Games. World Games organizers and the IOF were "struck by this tragedy and extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the athlete and the whole orienteering community", the joint statement read. "Our thoughts are with those touched by this event." Organizers will "continue to support the family of Mattia Debertolis and the orienteering community in every possible way", it added. © 2025 AFP
