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Italy’s Valentina Petrillo made history at the Paralympic Games, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to compete after qualifying for the women’s T12 400m semi-finals. The 51-year-old sprinter, who transitioned in 2019, finished second in her heat on Monday with a time of 58.35 seconds, securing a spot in the semi-finals as the sixth fastest qualifier.
Petrillo, who competes in the T12 classification for athletes with visual impairments, expressed her excitement after the race, stating, “The atmosphere in the stadium is great, it’s just a dream come true. From today I don’t want to hear anything more about discrimination, prejudices against transgender people.”
While the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) currently allows international sport governing bodies to set their own policies regarding transgender inclusion, the topic remains deeply divisive. IPC president Andrew Parsons acknowledged the controversy but emphasized that Petrillo was “welcome” in Paris under existing World Para Athletics policies. Parsons also expressed a desire for a more unified approach to transgender policies in sports.
Petrillo’s participation has sparked debate among athletes and officials. Ukrainian sprinter Oksana Boturchuk, who will race against Petrillo in the semi-finals, voiced her disapproval, stating, “I find this not fair, in my opinion. I am not against transgenders in general but in this situation I do not understand and don’t support it.”
The Venezuelan Paralympic Committee echoed these concerns, describing Petrillo’s inclusion as “a terrible inequality that puts female athletes (born female) at a great disadvantage.” The committee’s general secretary, Johan Marin, proposed the creation of an open category for transgender athletes, calling it “the fairest and most sensible thing.”
Petrillo, who won 11 national titles in the male T12 category before transitioning, has faced opposition since beginning her career as a female athlete. In 2021, a petition signed by over 30 female athletes challenged her right to compete in women’s races, but Petrillo has persisted, winning two bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships last year.
