51-Year-Old Valentina Petrillo Reaches 400m T12 Semi-Final as First Transgender Paralympian

Sep 2, 2024, 09:47 AM

Valentina Petrillo, a 51-year-old transgender athlete from Italy, has made history by becoming the first transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympics. Petrillo, who previously competed in men's events and won 11 national titles, has qualified for the semi-finals of the women's 400m T12 event at the Paris Paralympics. This achievement comes after Petrillo secured second place in heat 4 of the competition. The participation of Petrillo, who is a father of two, has sparked controversy, as some argue it has affected opportunities for other athletes, such as Melani Bergés Gámez, a visually impaired athlete from Madrid.