Valentina Petrillo

Valentina Petrillo (; born 2 October 1973) is an Italian Paralympic athlete who competes in the women's 100, 200 and 400 metre T12 class visually impaired sprint.

Petrillo has been the first trans woman to take part in an international Paralympic Women's Championship, debuting at the , a milestone for transgender people in sports. Petrillo competed for the first time in the women's category at the on 11 September 2020, marking the first time in paralympic sports that a transgender person was allowed to do so.

Petrillo's story will be narrated through a movie, currently in development, named 5 nanomoli-Il sogno olimpico di una donna trans.

Athletics career In 2020, she started officially competing in the women's category,

On 22 March 2021, she set another new record, this time in 200 meters T12. Petrillo represented Italy at the 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships, ranking 5th.

In March 2023, Petrillo withdrew from competing in the World Masters Indoor Athletic Championships on account of anti-trans threats and concerns for her safety.

On 2 September 2024, Petrillo debuted at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, qualifying for the semi-finals of the T12 women's 400 metres. She achieved a personal best time of 57.58 seconds in the second semi-final, but failed to reach the final of the event. Petrillo also qualified for the semi-finals of the T12 women's 200 metres on 6 September. She finished ninth with a season's-best time of 25.92 seconds, but failed to advance to the final.

Personal life Petrillo was previously married to a woman. Her wife supported Petrillo's transition. They share a son.

National records Seniores 200 meters plain T12: 27"17 ( Ancona, 22 March 2021) 400 meters plain indoor T13: 59"77 ( Piacenza, 20 June 2021)