An Italian sprinter will become the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics later today.
Valentina Petrillo, 51, a father of two and winner of 11 national titles as a man before transitioning in 2019, will compete in the women’s 400m T12 at 9:48am BST. The T12 classification is for athletes with visual impairments.
He is also scheduled to compete in the 200 metres later in the competition.
Petrillo won two bronze medals at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships and vowed to be a “role model” for other athletes after being chosen to compete at the Paralympics.
“I honestly can’t wait to be in Paris and compete on that beautiful purple track and in front of all that enthusiastic crowd. I think there will be a lot more love for me than I can imagine,” Petrillo said last month, via Relief.
Valentina Petrillo (pictured) will become the first transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympic Games today.
Petrillo will compete in the women’s 200m T12 after winning two medals at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships.
Andrew Parsons (pictured), president of the International Paralympic Committee, insists that Petrillo is “welcome” in Paris
“It is only fair that each of us can express ourselves in our own gender. Sport should teach us the value of inclusion and this is fundamental for people’s happiness.
‘I have learned to let go of what I cannot control. I am now psychologically stronger than I was a while ago and this is also due to the support of my psychologist. People always criticise, for whatever reason, and that is why in my case they are even more likely to do so.
‘Little by little I understood that you have to live with people’s envy and jealousy, unfortunately, but for my part I am aware that what I do is real and therefore I have nothing to fear.
‘I can win a medal, but I have to do better than my personal best from last year (58.011), because the level has increased.
‘I am fully aware of the social and cultural value of my presence at Paris 2024. I will do my best to rise to the occasion and achieve a sporting result of a certain competitive value.
‘There is a community that supports and admires me, but even those who are not from the LGTBIQ+ world encourage me, because they see me as an inspiring role model and that, for me, is the most beautiful thing.’
Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has said BBC Sports Petrillo is “welcome” in Paris under current World Para Athletics policies.
But Petrillo’s participation has sparked controversy, with one of her rivals raising fears that the Italian “has an advantage” over the rest of the field.
Visually impaired German sprinter Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt (left) fears that Petrillo, 51, “may have an advantage” because she “has lived and trained as a man for a long time.”
Spanish lawyer Irene Aguiar (pictured), who specialises in international sports law, has said that Petrillo’s participation in the Paralympic Games is “unfair”
German Paralympian Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt, who also has vision problems and will compete against the Italian in the 200 metres, told Bild: “Basically, everyone should live everyday life as they feel comfortable. But I find it difficult in competitive sports.
‘She (Petrillo) has lived and trained as a man for a long time, so there is a possibility that her physical demands are different from those of someone who was born a woman. This could give her an advantage.’
A lawyer also described the decision to allow Petrillo to compete against women as “unfair.”
Spanish lawyer Irene Aguiar, who specialises in international sports law and lives in Madrid, told Bild: “Our Spanish athlete Melani Berges has missed the chance to qualify for the Paralympic Games. The reason for this is the participation of Fabrizio “Valentina” Petrillo, who has reached the final instead of her. This is unfair.”
According to the Bild newspaper, 40 feminist organisations also protested against the decision.
Meanwhile, Mara Yamauchi, who competed in the women’s Olympic marathon for Team GB in 2008 and 2012, has urged governing bodies to do more to protect women.
Mara Yamauchi (right) believes governing bodies need to do more to protect female athletes, but Petrillo has been given the green light to compete at the Paralympics.
Talking about GB News Last month, she said: “The inclusion of men in the women’s category is unfair and unsafe in some sports. I used to train with the British Paralympians and what they have overcome is extraordinary in many cases.”
‘Categories exist in parasport for a reason, which is to make competition fair.
‘So if they decide that men can participate in the women’s category, what’s the point of having Paralympic classes to make the competition fair?
“That just makes the whole thing meaningless.”
However, despite the protests, Petrillo has been given the green light to compete and will take to the track late this morning.