Transgender father-of-two, 51, becomes the Paralympics’ FIRST trans athlete and qualifies for the women’s 400m T12 semi-final after beating five female rivals’ times in the heats

An athlete who has won 11 national men’s titles qualified for the semi-finals of the Paralympic women’s 400 metres on Monday at the age of 51 after the sport’s governing body accepted the athlete’s eligibility to compete.

Italian father of two Valentina Petrillo, who at 45 was still competing as a man, claims she was allowed to compete in the women’s category for her “luck”. She came second in her heat, beating a Chinese runner 18 years her junior.

Although World Para Athletics (WPA) maintains that Petrillo’s testosterone levels, post-transition, make her fit to race, the athlete had an added advantage over Venezuelan and Chinese competitors in her heat, for visually impaired competitors. While the other two runners required a guide, Pertrillo ran unaided.

Petrillo ran her heat in 58.35. The Chinese rider behind her finished in 1:01.11.

The semi-final is on Monday evening and the final on Tuesday.

Petrillo finished second in her heat, which was enough to secure her passage to the next round

Petrillo defeated five of her female rivals and will play in the semi-finals on Monday night

Petrillo has faced criticism over her participation in the Games, with one of her rivals fearing the Italian had a “head start” on the rest of the field ahead of Monday’s race.

German Paralympic athlete Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt 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.”

Madrid-based lawyer Irene Aguiar also slammed Petrillo’s “unfair” involvement, claiming she had taken the place of a Spanish athlete.

During the qualifying rounds for the Paralympic Games, Petrillo reached the semi-finals, beating blind Spanish sprinter Melani Berges (33), who finished fifth and therefore missed her chance to participate in Paris.

Visually impaired German sprinter Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt, 42, 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 is ‘unfair’

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 reached the final instead of her. That is unfair.’

But Petrillo defended her participation in the Games, telling reporters before arriving in France: “Honestly, I can’t wait to be in Paris and to race on that beautiful purple track and in front of all that enthusiastic crowd. I think there will be much more love for me than I can imagine.

‘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.’

Petrillo was cleared to compete and appeared to be in good form as she advanced to the semi-finals.

Later in the race she will also run the 200 meters.

More to come…