Visually impaired Italian sprinter, Valentina Petrillo, 50, is set to become the first-ever trans athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games and believes her participation is an ‘important symbol of inclusion’.
Petrillo, who transitioned in 2019, won bronze in the T12 200m at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and will compete in the T12 200m and 400m in Paris.
‘I have been waiting for this day for three years and in these past three years I have done everything possible to earn it,’ Petrillo told BBC Sport. ‘I deserve this selection and I want to thank the Italian Paralympic Federation and the Italian Paralympic Committee for having always believed in me, above all as a person as well as an athlete.’
Under World Para Athletics’ rules, athletes who are legally recognized as women are eligible to compete in female disciplines. This policy differs from World Athletics, who banned transgender athletes from women’s events in March 2023.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president, Andrew Parsons, stated that Petrillo would be ‘welcome’ at the upcoming games, but hopes sporting bodies can unite on their stance on transgender athlete participation.
‘I am prepared for the criticism,’ Petrillo said when asked about potential backlash. ‘But again we need to respect our rules, we cannot disrespect our rules.’
Petrillo was born with Stargardt disease, a rare degenerative eye condition, and had previously competed in men’s national races before transitioning in 2019, winning 11 national titles in the men’s T12 category.
Now set to make history, Petrillo is first in action in the T12 women’s 400m event on Monday, September 2, as she aims to become the first-ever transgender Paralympian.
