Italian runner Mattia Debertolis, 29, tragically passed away while competing on August 12, 2023. His passing came only four days after he fell ill while competing in an orienteering competition at the World Games in China. On August 8 during the men’s middle distance final, he went down—as the banner says—unconscious. The overwhelming heat and humidity enveloped him, as temperatures climbed over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Debertolis was originally from Primiero, a predominantly Italian-speaking enclave in eastern Italy, and had been regularly competing in orienteering competitions since 2014. At the time of injury, he was ranked 137th in the men’s Orienteering World Rankings and had represented Italy in multiple World Championships and World Cups. At the time of his untimely death, he was working on a PhD at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. That city was his intellectual home.
A challenging technical course with 180 meters (590 feet) of ascent and 20 control points would be the ultimate test during the event for Debertolis. Sadly, he too joined the “Did Not Finish” club, as did 11 other athletes. Despite the most immediate expert medical attention at one of China’s foremost medical institutions, he died.
With heavy hearts, the World Games organisers and our members of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) have released a statement of condolence. They pledged to “continue to support the family of Mattia Debertolis and the orienteering community in every possible way.”
Alfio Giomi, president of the Italian Orienteering Federation, announced that “athletes will be able to participate in the competitions in Mattia’s name and memory,” ensuring that his legacy continues within the sport.
Riccardo Rancan, another competitor at the event, noted the challenges posed by the weather conditions: “I needed to acclimatise quickly with hot and humid conditions. I think I managed quite well.”
