An Italian sprinter will be the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics later today.
Valentina Petrillo, 50, who transitioned in 2019, will compete in the women’s T12 200m at 9.48am BST. The T12 classification is for athletes with visual impairments.
She is also due to compete in the 400m later in the competition.
Petrillo won two bronze medals at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships, and has vowed to be a ‘role model’ for other athletes after being picked to compete at the Paralympics.
WORDS FROM PETRILLO
‘Honestly, I can’t wait to be in Paris and race 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 Relevo.
‘It’s 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 some time 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.’
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WORDS FROM OFFICIALS
Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has told BBC Sport 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 the Italian ‘has an advantage’ over the rest of the field.
