Two running teammates mysteriously died in their sleep just weeks apart.
Marathon runner Alberto Zordan suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest in his sleep and was found dead in bed on Sunday (2 Nov).
Just a few weeks earlier, on 13 October, Anna Zilio, another marathon runner from the same club, had been found dead at home by her parents.
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Both bodies have undergone autopsies – Zordan’s on Wednesday (5 Nov) – and tests are underway to determine whether the two deaths could be linked.
That theory, however, has been dismissed by KM Sport, the San Martino Buon Albergo-based club near Verona, Italy, that both athletes belonged to, calling it a “cruel twist of fate”.
Club spokesperson Emanuele Marchi said the pair had different coaches and barely any contact, as Zilio mainly handled administrative duties as the club’s secretary.
“They didn’t even have the same doctor – the health certificates they gave us in January listed two different clinics,” he said.
“You have to bear in mind our team has over 600 members, 480 of them runners – obviously, they don’t all know each other.”
Zordan’s loved ones described him as health-conscious, a non-smoker, a non-drinker, and a dedicated runner, as reported by Need To Know.
The 48-year-old from Sovizzo had no known heart problems and was under regular medical supervision while preparing for the Valencia Marathon on 7 December.
His passion for running began about 10 years ago, when he first joined Atletica Vicentina, later moving to Vicenza Marathon, and finally, in 2019, to Team KM Sport.
Outside running, he was devoted to his wife, Valentina, their 11-year-old daughter, and his career as a logistics and facilities manager.
The Vicenza and Verona prosecutor’s offices are each investigating the two deaths.
Zilio, originally from Marano Vicentino, had lived in the Verona area for the past nine years.
Like Zordan, the 39-year-old underwent regular check-ups, and her lawyer Marco Pezzotti has ruled out doping.
“They weren’t professionals – they had nothing to gain,” he said. “For us amateurs, winning just means reaching a personal goal.”
Zilio reportedly ran 10 to 15 kilometres (six to nine miles) every day and regularly competed in marathons and endurance races.
Both families are now waiting for autopsy results, which should reveal whether an undiagnosed heart condition or something else caused their sudden deaths.
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