Italian orienteering athlete mourned

The international sports community is mourning the tragic death of Italian orienteering athlete Mattia Debertolis after an all-out medical effort failed to save him following his collapse while competing at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu.

The 29-year-old Debertolis was found unconscious during the men's middle-distance orienteering competition on Friday. Despite receiving immediate medical assistance at the scene and being transferred to intensive care at one of China's leading medical institutions, he passed away on Tuesday, according to a joint statement from the International World Games Association, the local organizing committee of the Chengdu Games and the International Orienteering Federation.

IOF president Tom Hollowell expressed his deepest condolences to Debertolis' family, friends and orienteering clubs.