Martin Dematteis was born in 1986 in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, growing up in the shadow of the Alps alongside his twin brother Bernard. The Dematteis twins became inseparable both in life and in mountain running, developing into two of Italy's most decorated and recognisable uphill athletes over a career spanning nearly two decades. Martin's journey from the valleys of Piedmont to the world championship stage is one of sustained dedication to a sport that demands both raw power and alpine intuition.
Throughout his career, Martin Dematteis has accumulated an impressive collection of international results in mountain running. He has represented Italy at numerous European and World Mountain Running Championships, consistently finishing among the top competitors. His racing style is characterised by a remarkably efficient uphill technique and an ability to maintain intensity across the full duration of a mountain race. While Bernard has often drawn slightly more headlines, Martin's contributions to Italian team results have been equally vital, and the brothers together have anchored Italy's mountain running squad for over a decade.
The Dematteis phenomenon extends beyond individual results. As twins competing at the highest level in the same discipline, they have become ambassadors for mountain running in Italy, inspiring a generation of young runners in the Piedmont region and across the country. Their rivalry and camaraderie on race day create a unique dynamic that fans and fellow athletes admire. They frequently train together on the steep trails above their home, pushing each other to levels that would be difficult to reach alone.
By the time of the WMTRC 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai, Martin was 37 years old and had been competing at the international level for well over fifteen years. His selection for the Italian team reflected both his enduring fitness and his wealth of experience on championship courses. In a sport where knowledge of pacing, terrain management and altitude adaptation are crucial, few athletes brought as much accumulated wisdom to the start line as Martin Dematteis.
At the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023, Martin Dematteis competed in the Mountain Classic men's race. The course ran from Innsbruck up to the summit of the Patscherkofel, covering approximately 12 kilometres with around 1,200 metres of elevation gain. This format perfectly suited Dematteis's strengths as a pure mountain runner, with the relentless ascent through forest tracks and alpine meadows demanding exactly the kind of sustained climbing power he has honed over his career.
The Mountain Classic at the WMTRC 2023 attracted an exceptionally strong field, including specialists from Kenya, Eritrea, Turkey and across Europe. For Dematteis, the race in the Tyrolean Alps presented a course quite different from the Italian mountains he knows best, with wider tracks and a more gradual gradient in the early kilometres before steeper alpine terrain near the summit. His experience at previous world championships helped him read the race and manage his effort across the varying sections.
Italy fielded a strong team in the Mountain Classic, and Dematteis played an important role in the team classification. While the individual podium was fiercely contested by younger specialists, the collective strength of the Italian squad, underpinned by veterans like Dematteis, ensured a competitive showing. The complete results of all disciplines are available on the results page.
| Discipline | Placement | Time | Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Classic (Men) | Team ITA | — | ~12 km / 1,200 m elev. |
Martin Dematteis is an Italian mountain runner born in 1986 in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. He is the twin brother of fellow mountain runner Bernard Dematteis. Together, the Dematteis twins are among Italy's most accomplished mountain running athletes, having represented their country at numerous European and World Championships over a career spanning more than fifteen years.
Dematteis competed in the Mountain Classic men's race at the WMTRC 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai. This discipline involved running approximately 12 kilometres from Innsbruck to the summit of the Patscherkofel, ascending around 1,200 metres of elevation. It is the traditional format of mountain running that best matches his strengths as an uphill specialist.
Yes, Martin and Bernard Dematteis are identical twin brothers from Piedmont, Italy. Both are elite mountain runners who have competed together on the Italian national team for many years. Their shared dedication to the sport has made them one of the most distinctive and celebrated pairings in international mountain running.
Italy fielded a competitive squad in the Mountain Classic at the 2023 World Championships. The team drew on a deep tradition of mountain running excellence, with experienced athletes like Martin Dematteis contributing to the team classification. Italy has historically been one of the strongest nations in mountain running, particularly in the uphill-only format.
The Mountain Classic is the traditional mountain running race format, featuring a course that runs primarily uphill from a valley start to a mountain summit finish. Unlike trail running events that include flat sections and descents, the Mountain Classic tests pure climbing ability over a relatively short distance with significant elevation gain. At the WMTRC 2023, the course finished atop the Patscherkofel above Innsbruck.
Martin Dematteis was 37 years old at the time of the WMTRC 2023 in June 2023. Despite his age, he remained competitive at the highest international level, reflecting both his lifelong dedication to the sport and the fact that mountain runners often peak later than track athletes, with experience playing a crucial role in race execution.
The Dematteis twins are remarkable for competing at the elite level in the same discipline for over fifteen years. Training together daily on the steep trails of Piedmont, they push each other to performances that would be difficult to achieve alone. Their presence on the Italian team has provided stability and depth in the team classification at multiple World and European Championships.
Complete results for all five disciplines at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai — including the Vertical Race, Mountain Classic, Trail Short, Trail Long and Stubai Ultratrail — are available on the results page. You will find individual placings, times and team classifications there.