Sports

Italian Orienteer Dies After Collapsing at World Games in China

A cause of death was not given for Mattia Debertolis, 29, a fixture on Italy’s national team since 2014.
Italian Orienteer Dies After Collapsing at World Games in China
Italy's delegation takes part in the athletes' parade during the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Games at the Tianfu International Convention Center in Chengdu, in China's southwestern Sichuan province, on Aug. 7, 2025. Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images
Haika Mrema
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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.
Haika Mrema
Haika Mrema
Author
Haika Mrema is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times. She is an experienced writer and has covered entertainment and higher-education content for platforms such as Campus Reform and Media Research Center. She holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University where she majored in marketing.