IOF President Tom Hollowell, on behalf of the International Orienteering Federation, expresses his deepest condolences to Mattia Debertolis’ family, friends, clubs, and the Italian Orienteering Federation.
– I am not able to adequately describe in words the unfathomable dept of sadness in this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with all who mourn Mattia. I encourage the global orienteering community to honor his memory, says the IOF President.
The International World Games Association (IWGA), Local Organising Committee (LOC) of The World Games 2025 Chengdu and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) confirm with great sadness the passing of Italian orienteering athlete, Mattia Debertolis.
Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during the Men’s Middle Distance competition of Orienteering on the morning of Friday, 8 August 2025 in Chengdu, China, during the 12th edition of The World Games. Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China’s leading medical institutions, he passed away on 12 August 2025.
Mattia Debertolis was part of the Italian Orienteering Federation’s team at the World Games 2025. He was a member of the Italian national team and participated in several World Championships and World Cups. The 5th place with the Italian team in the World Cup Final 2022 Relay is one of several highlights on the international stage.
In his childhood and youth years, Mattia was active both in orienteering, cross-country skiing and football. His love for navigating and finding the control points made him prioritize orienteering and pursue a career within elite orienteering.
Mattia was not only an elite athlete, but also a highly skilled civil engineer, with studies in progress for a PhD at the university in Stockholm, where he lived and was part of the orienteering club IFK Lidingö. In addition to this impressive combination with his athlete career, he supported his family with their local hotel in his home valley Primiero.
This statement is issued with the consent of the family of Mattia Debertolis.
Together with IWGA and the LOC in Chengdu, IOF will continue to support the family of Mattia Debertolis and has no additional comments at this time.