Athlete, 29, Dies 4 Days After ‘Being Found Unconscious’ at World Games in China

NEED TO KNOW

• On Tuesday, Aug. 12, The World Games and the International Orienteering Federation confirmed in a joint statement that Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis died that same day
• “Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during the Men’s Middle Distance competition of Orienteering on the morning of Friday, 8 August 2025 in Chengdu, China, during the 12th edition of The World Games,” the release read. “Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China’s leading medical institutions, he passed away on 12 August 2025"
• Debertolis was reportedly 29 years old, according to CNN and the BBC
  
  

An athlete has died after taking part in the World Games in Chengdu, China.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, The World Games and the International Orienteering Federation confirmed in a joint statement that Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis died that same day.

“Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during the Men’s Middle Distance competition of Orienteering on the morning of Friday, 8 August 2025 in Chengdu, China, during the 12th edition of The World Games,” the release read. “Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China’s leading medical institutions, he passed away on 12 August 2025.”

Debertolis was reportedly 29 years old, according to CNN and the BBC.

PEOPLE reached out to the World Games and the International Orienteering Federation for further comment, but they did not immediately respond.

IOF President Tom Hollowell expressed his condolences to Debertolis’ loved ones.

“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,” his statement read in the official release. “I encourage the global orienteering community to honor his memory," noted the IOF President.

Debertolis was described as "Did Not Finish" in the event's results. 11 other participants were also listed as not completing the competition.

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Debertolis was “a member of the Italian national team and participated in several World Championships and World Cups," according to the full release on orienteering.sport.

In the World Cup Final 2022 Relay, he landed in 5th place with his team.

Apart from sports, the athlete was also a civil engineer and had been studying for a PhD at a university in Stockholm.

He also helped at his family's local hotel with their local hotel in Primiero, his home valley.

"This statement is issued with the consent of the family of Mattia Debertolis," officials concluded in their statement. "Together with IWGA and the LOC in Chengdu, IOF will continue to support the family of Mattia Debertolis and has no additional comments at this time."

Read the original article on People