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 has become the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympic Games later today.

Valentina Petrillo, 51, a father of two who won 11 national titles as a man before transitioning in 2019, will compete in the women’s T12 400m at 9.48am BST. The T12 classification is for athletes with a visual impairment.

Later in the competition she will also participate in the 200 meters.

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 selected to compete in the Paralympic Games.

“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 Relevance.

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 Paralympic Committee, insists 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 to people’s happiness.

‘I’ve learned to let go of what I can’t control. I’m now psychologically stronger than I was a while ago and that’s also because of the support of my psychologist. People always criticize, for whatever reason, and that’s why they’re even more likely to do that with me.

‘I have gradually understood that you have to live with people’s envy and jealousy. Unfortunately, but I know that what I do is real and that I have nothing to fear.

‘I can win a medal, but I have to perform better than my personal record from last year (58.011), because the level has gone up.

‘I am fully aware of the social and cultural value of my presence in Paris 2024. I will do everything I can to take up the challenge and achieve a sporting result of a certain competitive value.

‘There is a community that supports me and looks up to me, but also people who are not from the LGTBIQ+ world encourage me. They see me as an inspiring role model and I think that is the most beautiful thing there is.’

Andrew Parsons, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has said BBC Sport Petrillo is ‘welcome’ in Paris according to current World Para Athletics policy.

Petrillo’s participation, however, caused controversy, with one of her rivals fearing that the Italian had ‘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 been living and training as a man for a long time”

Spanish lawyer Irene Aguiar (pictured), who specialises in international sports law, claims Petrillo’s participation in the Paralympic Games is ‘unfair’

German Paralympic athlete Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt, who also has a visual impairment and will compete against the Italian in the 200m, told Bild: ‘In principle, everyone should live their everyday life the way they feel comfortable. But I find it difficult in competitive sports.

“She (Petrillo) has lived and trained as a male for a long time, so there is a possibility that the physical requirements are different than someone born as a female. This could give her an advantage.”

An attorney calls the decision to allow Petrillo to run against women “unfair.”

Spanish lawyer Irene Aguiar from Madrid, 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 reached the final instead of her. That is unfair.’

According to a report by Bild, 40 feminist organizations also protested the decision.

Meanwhile, Mara Yamauchi, who competed for the British team in the 2008 and 2012 women’s Olympic marathon, 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 in the Paralympics

Talking about GB News Last month she said: ‘Men in the women’s 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.

‘There is a reason why categories exist in parasport, and that is to keep the competition fair.

‘If you then decide that men can compete in the women’s category, what is the use of Paralympic classes to make the competition fair?

“It makes the whole thing meaningless.”

Despite protests, Petrillo has been given the green light to compete and will be in the starting blocks later this morning.