Tragic news hit the sports world this week. Mattia Debertolis, a talented Italian athlete, passed away on Tuesday. He was just 29 years old. Debertolis had been competing in the World Games in Chengdu, China, when he collapsed during an orienteering event.
The incident happened on Friday. Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during his competition. He was quickly taken to a hospital. Organizers of the World Games and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) released a joint statement. They confirmed that Mattia received top-level medical care. This was in one of China’s best hospitals. Still, he died three days after the incident. The statement did not say what caused his death.
The orienteering final where Debertolis was competing took place about 50 kilometers from central Chengdu. Conditions were tough. The temperature reached 30 degrees Celsius during the race. Switzerland’s Riccardo Rancan won the event. His winning time was 45 minutes and 22 seconds. Mattia Debertolis was ranked 137th in the world for orienteering.
The 12th edition of the World Games started last Thursday and finished on Sunday. It was held in Chengdu, China. These games feature sports that are not part of the Olympics. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially recognizes them.
