Italian sprinter set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics TODAY after winning two medals at last year’s World Championships

An Italian sprinter will be the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics later today.

Valentina Petrillo, 51, who transitioned in 2019, will compete in the women’s T12 400m at 9.48am BST. The T12 classification is for athletes with visual impairments.

She is also due to compete in the 200m 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.

‘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. 

Valentina Petrillo (pictured) will become the first transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics later today

Petrillo will compete in the women’s T12 200m after winning two medals at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships

Andrew Parsons (pictured), the president of the International Paralympics Committee, insists Petrillo is ‘welcome’ in Paris

‘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.

‘I gradually 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 absolutely aware of the social and cultural value of my presence in Paris 2024. I will do everything possible to rise to the occasion and achieve a sporting result of a certain competitive value. 

‘There is a community that supports me and looks up to me, but even those who are not from the LGTBIQ+ world encourage me, because they see me as an inspiring role model and this for me is the most beautiful thing.’

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. 

Visually impaired German sprinter Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt (left) worries that Petrillo, 51, ‘could 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 claimed Petrillo competing at the Paralympics is ‘unfair’

German Paralympian Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt, who is also visually impaired and set to compete against the Italian in the 200m, told Bild: ‘Basically, everyone should live in everyday life the way 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 the physical requirements are different to those of someone who was born a woman. This could give her an advantage.’

A lawyer has also branded the decision to allow Petrillo to run against women as ‘unfair’. 

Madrid-based Spanish lawyer Irene Aguiar, who specialises in international sports law, was quoted by Bild as saying: ‘Our Spanish athlete Melani Berges has lost the chance to qualify for the Paralympics. The reason is the participation of the man Fabrizio “Valentina” Petrillo, who made it to the final instead of her. That is unfair.’

A report from Bild claimed that 40 feminist organisations also protested the decision.

Meanwhile, Mara Yamauchi, who competed in the Olympic women’s marathon for Team GB in 2008 and 2012, has urged governing bodies must do more to protect women.

Mara Yamauchi (right) believes governing bodies must do more to protect female athletes, but Petrillo has been given the green light to compete at the Paralympics

Speaking on GB News last month, she said: ‘Males in the female category is unfair and it’s unsafe in some sports. I used to train with the British Paralympians, and what they’ve overcome is extraordinary in many cases. 

‘The categories exist in para sport for a reason, which is to make competition fair.

‘So if you then decide that men can go in the female category, what is the point of having the Paralympic classes to make competition fair? 

‘It just renders the whole thing meaningless.’

However, despite protestations, Petrillo has been given the green light to compete and will take to the starting blocks later this morning.