29-year-old athlete dies during World Games in China after orienteering event: Here's what happened

The 12th edition of the World Games, happening in Chengdu, China (Aug 7–17), took a devastating turn when 29-year-old Italian orienteer Mattia Debertolis tragically passed away.

He collapsed during the men's middle-distance orienteering race on August 8 and was found unconscious on the course. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, Mattia sadly passed away four days later on August 12, 2025.If you’ve never heard of orienteering, no worries, it's like a real-life treasure hunt/survival race combo. Athletes zip across wild terrains with just a map and compass, hitting checkpoints as fast as they can.

Super cool, adrenaline-pumping, but also tough on the body.On race day, the heat and humidity were off the charts—temps over 30°C, some reports even say it spiked as high as 37°C out there on the course.

Who was Mattia Debertolis?

Mattia wasn’t just another young athlete chasing podiums. He was part of Italy’s national orienteering squad, a civil engineer by training, and a PhD student living in Stockholm. He competed in several World Championships and World Cups, last month alone he reached the final in the middle-distance event in Finland.

Orienteering isn’t just about reading a map, it’s a full-on endurance test. You’re running through forests, climbing hills, dodging streams, and making split-second decisions about where to go next. It’s like mixing cross-country running with a mental puzzle, and your body has to keep up with both. Endurance is everything here: athletes push their stamina to the max while staying sharp enough not to get lost. Add in unpredictable terrain and weather, and it’s easy to see why orienteering is considered one of the toughest outdoor sports.

It’s brains plus brawn, and only the fittest can truly thrive.Both the World Games organizers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) released joint statements expressing profound grief. They’re standing by Mattia’s family and the wider orienteering community every step of the way.IOF President Tom Hollowell put it perfectly: he couldn’t properly express the “unfathomable depth of sadness” felt over such a tragic loss.

He encouraged the global orienteering family to honor Mattia’s memory.This tragic event is a stark reminder of how physical limits can sneak up on you—especially in extreme conditions. Even the strongest athletes can be vulnerable when the heat pushes body temperatures too high, and hydration or response times falter just a bit.For anyone trekking, running, or competing outdoors—especially in heat—this underscores the importance of climate awareness, pre-race conditioning, and immediate medical readiness.