Valentina Petrillo
Valentina Petrillo (born 2 October 1973 as Fabrizio Petrillo) is an Italian Paralympic athlete competing in the 100, 200 and 400 m T12 class visually impaired sprint.[1][2][3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 2 September 1973 Napoli |
| Sport | |
| Country | Italy |
| Sport | Paralympic athletics |
| Disability class | T12 |
| Event | Sprint with sighted guide |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Paralympic finals | 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships |
She has been the first transgender woman to take part in an international Paralympic Women's Championship, debuting at the Italian Paralympic Athletics Championships, a milestone for the transgender people in sports.[2][1][4][5][6][7]
Better to be a slow happy woman
than a fast unhappy man[8]
Biography
Born in Naples on October 2, 1973, as Fabrizio, Petrillo started practising athletics at a young age until a loss of sight when she was 14, due to the Stargardt disease she had been diagnosed with.[2]
Soon after finishing her studies in Bologna, Fabrizio joined the Italy national futsal team for visually impaired.[2]
When she was 41, Petrillo was determined to get back into athletics, winning 11 national titles in the men's category.[2][1]
In 2019 she changed her name to Valentina, starting a gender transitioning process;[1][9] Valentina competed for the first time in the Woman's category at the Italian Para Athletics Championships on September 11, 2020, marking the first time in Paralympic sports that a transgender person has been allowed to do so.[2][1][4][5][6][7][9]
Her story will be narrated through a movie, currently under development, named 5 nanomoli-Il sogno olimpico di una donna trans.[2][7]
Athletics career
Petrillo began to practise athletics at a young age, but had to stop due to her disease; at 41 years old she returned to sport as a para athlete.
In 2020 Valentina competes officially in the Women's category.[2][1][4][5][6][9] On April 25, 2021, she has set a new national record on the 400 meters T13 class, then improved in June of the same year.[9][10][11]
On March 22, 2021, Valentina set another new record, this time in 200 meters T12.[12]
She represented Italy at the 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships, ranking 5th.[10][13][14]
National records
- Seniores
- 200 meters plain T12: 27"17 (
Ancona, 22 March 2021)[12] - 400 meters plain indoor T13: 59"77 ( Piacenza, 20 June 2021)[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Paralimpici: Valentina Petrillo, è lei la prima transgender ammessa a gara ufficiale tra le donne". 9 September 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Valentina Petrillo: 'Better to be a slow happy woman than a fast unhappy man'". BBC News. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Valentina Petrillo". Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Valentina Petrillo, la prima atleta transgender a gareggiare tra le donne: "Mi accusano di non essere un buon padre"". 4 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Petrillo, in corsa per Tokyo: "Gareggio con le donne. Trans, del resto, significa 'oltre'"". 17 May 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Valentina Petrillo, la prima atleta paralimpica transgender in corsa per Tokyo 2021". 8 October 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "UISP - Nazionale - La storia di Valentina Petrillo diventerà presto un film". 8 September 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Valentina Petrillo: meglio donna più lenta ma felice, che uomo veloce ma triste". 24 November 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Atletica paralimpica: Valentina Petrillo record italiano nei 400". 28 April 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Atletica paralimpica, Assoluti di Concesio: sfida Caironi-Sabatini-Contrafatto nei 100, Legnante al rientro in gara". 2 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Atletica paralimpica: ancora record italiano per Petrillo nei 400 e Tonetto nel disco". 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Atletica paralimpica: Valentina Petrillo record italiano indoor nei 200 ad Ancona". 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Great Britain and Italy announce squads for Bydgoszcz 2021". 30 April 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Bydgoszcz 2021 - Results". Retrieved 23 July 2021.