Italian transgender sprinter Valentina Petrillo has failed to qualify for the final of the women's T12 400-meter at the Paris Paralympics.
Petrillo finished second in her heat and qualified for the next round as the sixth fastest runner with a time of 58.35, but could only manage third place in the semifinal.
The 50-year-old, who is visually impaired and a father of two, previously captured 11 national titles in the men’s category before the transition.
Petrillo began her transition in 2019 and has been permitted to compete by the International Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Athletics Federation.
Petrillo almost qualified for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 before winning the bronze medal at the World Paralympic Athletics Championships in 2023.
The International Paralympic Committee allows sporting governing bodies to set their own rules regarding the participation of transgender athletes.
