Latest news with #orienteering
Fox News
6 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."
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Italian athlete dies after collapsing during World Games orienteering race
An Italian athlete has died after being found unconscious mid-orienteering race, the International World Games Association (IWGA) has confirmed. Mattia Debertolis was competing in the men's middle distance race at The World Games — an Olympic-style meet for alternative events — in Chengdu, China on Friday when the incident occurred, a combined statement said. The news was confirmed by IWGA, the International Orienteering Federation and the Local Organising Committee of the event. Advertisement The 29-year-old received immediate medical care after he was found and was taken to a leading Chinese medical institution, but he passed away on Tuesday. '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,' said the IOF president Tom Hollowell in a statement on their website. 'I encourage the global orienteering community to honor his memory.' Orienteering involves navigating between checkpoints — with no set route — in the fastest time, and Debertolis was part of the national team that came fifth in relay of the 2022 World Cup final. The IOF statement was published with the consent of the athlete's family and illustrated more details on Debertolis' career and life. He had participated in several World Championships and World Cups during his career, after prioritising orienteering over cross-country skiing and football. Debertolis was also a civil engineering PHD student, studying in Stockholm. The 12th edition of the World Games is taking place from August 7-17 in Chengdu. The multi-sport event takes place every four years and this year is hosting more than 100 nations. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis dies aged 29 after collapsing at World Games
Mattia Debertolis competes in men's middle distance qualification race at the 2025 World Orienteering Championship in Tahko, Finland. (Aron Broman/Bildbyran/Sipa USA via CNN Newsource) Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing at the World Games, organizers said on Tuesday. In a joint statement from the International World Games Association, the local organizing committee (LOC) and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), the World Games said that the 29-year-old was found unconscious during the men's middle-distance race in the orienteering competition on August 8 in Chengdu, China. Although the Italian was rushed to hospital where he received immediate medical care, he passed away on Tuesday. The World Games statement said that they 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.' The statement did not give a cause of death. Debertolis was part of the Italian Orienteering Federation's (FISO) team at the 2025 World Games. Orienteering is a sport where athletes race across an unfamiliar terrain with the use of a map and a compass. The sport challenges participants' ability to problem solve and navigate outdoor challenges, all against the clock. The IOF separately expressed their condolences to Debertolis' family and friends. 'I am not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable dept 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,' IOF president Tom Hollowell said. According to FISO, the mountain bike orienteering races being held in Poland will see the awards ceremony with flags at half-mast to honor Debertolis. Debertolis had been a mainstay in Italy's national orienteering team for years, competing in multiple World Championships and World Cups. Participating in Italy's fifth-place finish at the World Cup Final 2022 Relay is one of Debertolis' career achievements on the international circuit. Born in the Primiero valley in Italy, Debertolis participated in orienteering, cross-country skiing and soccer as a youth, but his love for navigating meant he chose to compete in elite orienteering. Away from competing, Debertolis was also trained as a civil engineer. He was studying for a PhD at the University of Stockholm, where he lived. By Ben Morse, CNN
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis dies aged 29 after collapsing at World Games
Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing at the World Games, organizers said on Tuesday. In a joint statement from the International World Games Association, the local organizing committee (LOC) and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), the World Games said that the 29-year-old was found unconscious during the men's middle-distance race in the orienteering competition on August 8 in Chengdu, China. Although the Italian was rushed to hospital where he received immediate medical care, he passed away on Tuesday. The World Games statement said that they 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.' The statement did not give a cause of death. Debertolis was part of the Italian Orienteering Federation's (FISO) team at the 2025 World Games. Orienteering is a sport where athletes race across an unfamiliar terrain with the use of a map and a compass. The sport challenges participants' ability to problem solve and navigate outdoor challenges, all against the clock. The IOF separately expressed their condolences to Debertolis' family and friends. 'I am not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable dept 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,' IOF president Tom Hollowell said. According to FISO, the mountain bike orienteering races being held in Poland will see the awards ceremony with flags at half-mast to honor Debertolis. Debertolis had been a mainstay in Italy's national orienteering team for years, competing in multiple World Championships and World Cups. Participating in Italy's fifth-place finish at the World Cup Final 2022 Relay is one of Debertolis' career achievements on the international circuit. Born in the Primiero valley in Italy, Debertolis participated in orienteering, cross-country skiing and soccer as a youth, but his love for navigating meant he chose to compete in elite orienteering. Away from competing, Debertolis was also trained as a civil engineer. He was studying for a PhD at the University of Stockholm, where he lived.
National Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Italian orienteering athlete dies at World Games in China
Article content CHENGDU — Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis died on Tuesday at the World Games in Chengdu, China after collapsing during competition, organizers said. Article content 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). Article content Article content The World Games is a multisport event held every four years for disciplines not included in the Olympics. Article content 'Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away,' the statement said. Article content It did not provide details on the cause of death. Article content Orienteering sees athletes navigate an unmarked course with a map and compass, punching in at designated spots along the route in the quickest time. Article content The event, held about 50 kilometres (30 miles) outside of central Chengdu, took place in intense heat and humidity, with temperatures above 30 degrees. Article content Debertolis, from Primiero in eastern Italy, was taking part in the final of the men's middle-distance event when he collapsed. Article content The six-kilometre course featured 180 metres of ascent and 20 control points that athletes must visit. Article content Footage from the World Games' social media accounts showed athletes running through crop fields and villages on a largely rural course. Article content The winner, Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan, completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. Article content 'I needed to acclimatise quickly with hot and humid conditions. I think I managed quite well,' Chinese state media quoted Rancan as saying. Article content Debertolis was listed as 'Did Not Finish' in official results, along with 11 other athletes. Article content He was ranked 137th in the men's Orienteering World Rankings and had been competing since 2014, according to the IOF website. Article content He participated in several World Championships and World Cups as part of the Italian team. Article content Alongside his training, Debertolis was studying for a PhD at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where he lived. Article content 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. Article content World Games organisers 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. Article content
