Italian Transgender Sprinter Petrillo Falls Short of Medal in Paralympic Semifinal

Valentina Petrillo, the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics, has placed third in the women's T12 400-meter sprint semifinal, ending her hopes of medaling in the event.

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Italian Transgender Sprinter Petrillo Falls Short of Medal in Paralympic Semifinal

Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo made history at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris by becoming the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the event. However, her journey ended in the women's T12 400-meter sprint semifinal, where she finished third and failed to qualify for the final.

The 50-year-old athlete, who began transitioning in 2019, qualified for the semifinal with a time of 58.35 in the first round heat. She finished second in the heat without a guide, demonstrating her remarkable athletic abilities.

Italian Transgender Sprinter Petrillo Falls Short of Medal in Paralympic Semifinal

In the semifinal, Petrillo gave it her all but finished with a time of 57.58, which was not enough to secure a spot in Tuesday's final. Hajar Safarzadeh Ghahderijani of Iran and Alejandra Paola Perez Lopez of Venezuela finished ahead of Petrillo, leaving her with a third-place finish.

Petrillo was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition, as a teenager. Competing as a male, she won 11 national titles in the men's T12 category between 2015 and 2018 before transitioning.

Italian Transgender Sprinter Petrillo Falls Short of Medal in Paralympic Semifinal

"I began transitioning in 2019 and in 2020 I realized my dream, which was to race in the female category, to do the sport that I had always loved doing," Petrillo told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "I got to 50 before it came true ... we all have the right to a second choice of life, a second chance."

While World Athletics banned trans athletes from competing in women's events if they transitioned after puberty last year, World Para Athletics still allows transgender athletes to participate as long as they meet certain criteria. However, their testosterone levels must be below 10 nanomoles per liter of blood for at least 12 months prior to their first competition.

Italian Transgender Sprinter Petrillo Falls Short of Medal in Paralympic Semifinal

Petrillo's appearance at the Paralympics sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage over cisgender athletes. However, Petrillo has defended her right to compete, stating that she has always identified as female and has met all the eligibility requirements.

Despite her setback in the 400-meter sprint, Petrillo could still win an Olympic medal in the women's T12 200-meter, where round 1 begins Friday and the final is scheduled for Saturday.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed that Petrillo was not the first transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games. Dutch transgender athlete Ingrid van Kranen had competed at the 2016 Games in Rio.

Petrillo's participation in the Paralympic Games has sparked a wider conversation about the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. While some believe that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage, others argue that they should have the same opportunities to compete as cisgender athletes. The issue is likely to continue to be debated in the coming years as more transgender athletes seek to compete at the highest levels of sport.