An Italian orienteering athlete, Mattia De Bertolis, has died after collapsing during a World Games event in Chengdu, China. The 29-year-old athlete was found unconscious on August 8th and passed away four days later, as confirmed in a joint statement from the World Games and the International Orienteering Federation.
According to the statement, despite receiving immediate and expert medical attention at a major Chinese medical institution, De Bertolis did not survive. The cause of death has not been disclosed. The incident occurred during the men’s middle-distance final, where athletes use a map and compass to navigate an unmarked course and register their presence at various control points.
The event took place approximately 50 kilometers from central Chengdu in a challenging environment marked by high heat and humidity, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. De Bertolis, who hailed from the Primiero region of eastern Italy, was competing in the six-kilometer course, which featured a 180-meter climb and 20 control points. Social media footage from the World Games showed athletes navigating through fields and villages during the race.
Swiss athlete Riccardo Rancan, who won the gold medal with a time of 45 minutes and 22 seconds, commented on the difficult conditions. “I had to adapt quickly to the hot and humid conditions, and I think I did that pretty well,” he told Chinese state media.
The World Games is a multi-sport event held every four years for sports not included in the Olympics. This year’s 12th edition will run until August 17th, with nearly 4,000 athletes participating in 253 events. De Bertolis’s tragic passing has cast a somber mood over the ongoing competition.
