Italian athlete dies aged 29 after collapsing at World Games

 CHENGDU, China - Mattia Debertolis, an Italian athlete who had been hospitalised in Chengdu, China, after falling ill during the opening race of the World Games, has died at the age of 29. “Mattia,” write Alfio Giomi, president of the Italian Orienteering Federation (FISO), and the FISO Federal Council, “has left us, assisted until the end by his mother Erica, his brother Nicolò, the rest of his family in Italy with his father Fabio, his partner Jessica, his grandparents, the president of his club Gabriele Viale, coach Stefano Raus and his teammates Francesco, Anna and Caterina, Alessio Tenani and Riccardo Scalet, the entire IOF governance and the World Games Organising Committee, the doctors and nurses at Chengdu Hospital, the representatives of the Italian government in China, our love and that of those who knew you all over the world. Goodbye Mattia, we will all do our best to honour your memory.”

 Monday afternoon, the young man also received the sacrament of extreme unction. The deeply moving and intimate moment was officiated by the Bishop of Chengdu, who travelled two hours to reach the hospital. Mattia's mother, Erica Zagonel, and brother Nicolò strongly wanted him to receive this sacrament.

 Mattia Debertolis, a civil engineer residing in Stockholm, was tackling the course on Saturday night in temperatures of around 43 degrees when he suddenly collapsed to the ground. The young man was rushed to hospital and admitted to intensive care with a guarded prognosis, but his condition immediately appeared to be very serious. According to initial reports, Debertolis was competing normally when his GPS, a device carried by all athletes, suddenly stopped transmitting, indicating that he had stopped moving. This immediately triggered rescue operations and he was admitted to intensive care. Two days later, news of his death arrived after he had received the last rites.

 FISO President Alfio Giomi sent a message to the Italian MTB-O team, who will be competing in the World Championships in Poland starting Wednesday. “It is with immense sadness that I announce the death of Mattia Debertolis, athlete of the Italian National Orienteering Team, due to an illness that struck him on Friday 8 August during the middle distance race of the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. Given the imminent participation of the national MTB-O team in the world championships in Poland, at the request of Mattia's family and in agreement with the Federal Council, the athletes will be able to take part in the competitions in the name and memory of Mattia himself. In this regard, I invite you, in accordance with the equipment allowed in the competition, to wear black armbands.”

 FISO has also specified that no updates will be provided on the MTB-O World Championships out of respect for Mattia Debertolis: “We inform you that the Federation, out of respect for Mattia's memory, will not release any news or statements regarding the MTB-O World Championships. Any news regarding the national team's results will be postponed to a more appropriate time. Out of respect for this time of grief, we invite athletes, coaches, companions, close acquaintances and the entire orienteering movement to refrain from any celebratory communications or anything that may in any way disrespect the memory of our dear Mattia. We would like to take this opportunity to confirm our full support for the entire MTB-O team and wish them good luck for the competitions.”

rs