Debate at the Paralympics: Transgender runner Petrillo: “Hope my son is proud”

Valentina Petrillo’s first appearance at the Stade de France went off without much fanfare. Before her start at the Paralympics, there were discussions, especially on social media – and these took the transgender runner from Italy with them. As a man, she competed in countless competitions over many years until she underwent hormone therapy. At the age of 51, she now competed against women for the first time at the Paralympics in Paris.

“I am happy as a woman and running as a woman is all I want,” said the visually impaired Petrillo in an interview with the BBC from England. When she was 14, she was diagnosed with the retinal disease Stargardt’s disease. “I dream of a future where no one has to hear stories like mine.”

German association positions itself

There was a lot of excitement before their participation in the 400-meter sprint. The German Disabled Sports Association initially kept quiet, waiting for an internal meeting to then take a position. When asked by the German Press Agency, delegation leader Karl Quade explained: “We respect the decision of the international associations for the time being, but we are demanding clear rules for the future – World Athletic has these rules, Para-Athletic does not.”

The International Paralympic Committee’s definition is as follows: As long as Petrillo can prove that she has the testosterone levels required for women’s competitions, she is allowed to compete against women. However, IPC President Andrew Parsons pointed out that the rules apply “for the moment”. He too would like a “uniform” solution, the official explained in a BBC interview, adding that Petrillo is welcome in Paris. After all, the Paralympics are an ambassador for inclusion.

At the Stade de France, Petrillo finished second in her heat but then fell in the semifinals, finishing sixth. “I should be happy, even if I’m a little down,” she said. “I hope my son will be proud of me. That’s important because he has a father who is trans and I’m not the father everyone dreams of.”

Moments later, she was overcome with emotion. Through tears, Petrillo said: “Don’t treat transgender people badly. We suffer. There are people who kill themselves. That’s not OK. We’re not hurting anyone.” Then she ended the conversation.

Excitement already at the Olympics

This is not the first time that such debates have arisen. In 2016, a transsexual athlete, Ingrid van Kranen from the Netherlands, competed in the para-discus throw in Rio de Janeiro. At the most recent Olympic Games in Paris, the fights between boxers Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yi-ting (28) from Taiwan were in the spotlight. The discussions went far beyond the question of fair competition in sport and also reached the highest political circles. In the heated socio-political atmosphere, both athletes experienced a lot of hostility on the Internet.

The International Olympic Committee described gender testing carried out by the International Boxing Association as an “arbitrary decision without due process” and allowed Khelif and Lin to participate because they were born as women and had competed as women for years. The IBA had previously recognized “competitive advantages” and excluded the two.

Leading by a positive example

Petrillo is now the first openly trans Paralympic participant. She can count on the support of her wife. Nevertheless, the Neapolitan says it was not easy. By qualifying for the Paralympics, she wants to set a positive example. “I dream of a future in which there are no more children, girls, teenagers who are forced to hide, to be afraid, to not be able to express themselves as they are: in the family, in society, in everyday activities.”

She will be back on the start line on Friday morning. But her debut performance alone has already made her achieve something historic, says Petrillo. “I don’t want to hear anything more about discrimination and prejudice against transgender people. I’ve done it. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”