Valentina Petrillo’s remarkable Paralympic run is coming to an end, but the 51-year-old sprinter hopes her participation will mark the beginning of meaningful change for transgender athletes. In a candid interview with the UK Times on Monday, Petrillo, who transitioned from male to female in 2019, spoke about the ongoing transphobia she has faced, including comments from high-profile figures like JK Rowling.
Petrillo, a visually impaired Italian athlete, has spoken out about the prejudice she faces. “Rowling only cares about me using the women’s bathroom, but she doesn’t know anything about me,” Petrillo said. She highlighted what she describes as an “information problem,” suggesting that much of the criticism directed at transgender athletes stems from a lack of understanding and deep-rooted prejudice. “People used to say that men were going to compete as women just so they could win, but that’s not the case at all,” she said, stressing that such allegations are baseless.
The controversy intensified when JK Rowling criticised Algerian boxer Imane Khelif for competing as a woman at the Paris Olympics, even though Khelif was born biologically female and identifies as such. Rowling’s latest target is Petrillo, who recently qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 400 metres T12 at the Paralympics. After Petrillo qualified, Rowling took to X to express her displeasure. “Why all the anger over the inspiring Petrillo? The cheating community has never had this kind of visibility!” Rowling posted, further inflaming the debate.
Rowling’s comments were highly critical, with the author comparing Petrillo to a “cheater” and sarcastically suggesting that the era of “cheat shaming” was over. “Outspoken and proud cheaters like Petrillo prove that the era of cheat shaming is over. What a role model! I propose we give Lance Armstrong his medals back and move on,” Rowling wrote, ending her post with the hashtags #Cheat and #NoShame.
Petrillo, who has previously competed in men’s track and field and won several national titles, was allowed to compete in the women’s category at the Paralympics under World Para Athletics rules. Those rules allow athletes who are legally recognized as women and have maintained testosterone levels below a specific threshold for at least one year to participate.
Despite her impressive career, Petrillo’s performances at this year’s Paralympics fell short of her expectations. After reaching the semifinals, she finished third, missing out on a spot in the final and the chance to win a gold medal. Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, had expressed support for Petrillo’s participation, hoping that the sporting world would find unity on transgender policies. However, not everyone shared that sentiment. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova criticized the IPC’s policy, calling it “regressive” and sparking further debate.
As Petrillo reflects on her Paralympic experience and the criticism she faced, she remains committed to advocating for greater understanding and acceptance of transgender athletes. Her story highlights the challenges and ongoing conversations around inclusion in sport, emphasizing the need for empathy and informed discussions in the face of persistent bias.