Latest news with #MattiaDebertolis
RTHK
3 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
4 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)
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Italian Orienteer Dies After Collapsing at World Games in China
An Italian orienteering competitor died Aug. 12 at the World Games in Chengdu, China, four days after collapsing during a race. Mattia Debertolis, 29, was midway through the men's middle-distance final on Aug. 8 when he was found unconscious along the course by event personnel. The race was held about 30 miles from central Chengdu in heat exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis dead at 29 after being found 'unconscious' at World Games
Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died Tuesday after collapsing during a competition in China on Friday, according to event organizers. He was just 29. The International World Games Association (IWGA) issued a joint statement alongside the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of The World Games 2025 Chengdu and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) on Tuesday confirming the news of Debertolis' sudden passing. "The World Games Family, the LOC 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. Our thoughts are with those touched by this event." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON According to the statement, Debertolis was competing in the 12th edition of the World Games in Chengdu, China on Friday when he was discovered "unconscious" during the men's middle distance competition. Organizers said he received "expert medical care" at an area hospital, but he was pronounced dead on Tuesday. IOF President Tom Hollowell issued a separate statement calling Debertolis's death a "tragic loss of life." "I am not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable depth of sadness in this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with all who mourn Mattia. I encourage the global orienteering community to honor his memory," Hollowell's statement read. No official cause of death was given. Debertolis was a member of the Italian Orienteering Federation team competing in the 2025 World Games. He competed on the Italian national team in several World Championships and World Cups, including the 2022 World Cup relay final where he placed fifth, according to the IOF's statement. Orienteering is an outdoor sport that requires athletes to navigate between checkpoints using maps and compasses. "In his childhood and youth years, Mattia was active both in orienteering, cross-country skiing and football. His love for navigating and finding the control points made him prioritize orienteering and pursue a career within elite orienteering," Hollowell's statement continued. "Mattia was not only an elite athlete, but also a highly skilled civil engineer, with studies in progress for a PhD at the university in Stockholm, where he lived and was part of the orienteering club IFK Lidingö. In addition to this impressive combination with his athlete career, he supported his family with their local hotel in his home valley Primiero."
Japan Today
4 days ago
- 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
