A compelling story emerged from the track at this year's Paris Paralympics that has reignited discussions around transgender participation in elite sports. Italian runner Valentina Petrillo, 50, competed in the women's 400m and 200m events for visually impaired athletes, though she failed to qualify for the finals. Petrillo is a transgender woman who began her medical transition in 2019 at age 45 after being diagnosed with male puberty.
According to the rules set by the International Paralympic Committee, any athlete who has undergone legal gender recognition and maintains testosterone levels below a certain threshold for over a year can compete in the gender category of their identity. Petrillo meets these criteria after beginning hormone therapy. However, had she aimed to compete at the contemporaneous Olympics instead, she likely would have been ineligible under the more stringent regulations of World Athletics.
Though Petrillo's participation did not result in a podium finish, it served to underscore live debates in the realm of sport over physiological advantages attributed to those who go through male puberty, even after transitioning and hormone suppression therapy. Studies have shown therapeutic steps can reduce but may not eliminate prior strength and physiological advantages. Critics argue this puts natal female competitors at a disadvantage of varying degrees depending on the sport. Supporters counter that exclusion negates one's identity and human rights.
Petrillo herself acknowledged feeling weaker and slower than in her pre-transition years of competing against men, with 2.5 seconds and 11 seconds declines respectively in her best 200m and 400m times. Further discussion will be needed to balance principles of fairness, inclusion and human rights in this complex area of sports policy. For now, Petrillo has utilized her platform to advocate for greater transgender acceptance – a reminder that beyond regulations, sport has the power to change lives and perspectives.
