Visually impaired 50-year-old Italian transitioned in 2019 and won medals in World Para Athletics Championship last year
Visually-impaired Italian sprinter transitioned in 2019Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Paralympic Games after the visually impaired sprinter was selected to represent Italy in the women’s 200 and 400 metres races in Paris.
“I still find it hard to believe it and I’m keeping my feet on the ground because my chance to participate in Tokyo was missed by a whisker,” Petrillo said in a statement on Monday. “I will only start thinking about the Paris Games once I arrive in France.” The governing bodies of many sports including athletics, cycling and swimming have tightened their participation rules for transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions over the last couple of years.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prospect of blind competitor on Strictly thrills visually impaired ballroom dancersChris McCausland’s inclusion in hit TV show ‘promotes awareness around what people can do’
Read more »
Indigenous teen athlete Malachi's Brisbane 2032 Paralympics dreamsMalachi, 17, dreams of representing Australia at Brisbane 2032 Paralympics. The Games may be eight years away, but he trains every day at the athletics track in his hometown of Lismore.
Read more »
Paris has passed the torch to Los Angeles. Here's what we know about the 2028 Olympic GamesAn emblem designed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the debut of para climbing — what do we know about the next Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028?
Read more »
Mother of Paralympian Grace Brimelow urges Australians to think of sidelined kidsAs Australia prepares to cheer Grace Brimelow on at the 2024 Paralympics, her mum Simone Pearce says it is the perfect time to focus on improving inclusion at grassroots levels.
Read more »
The Gaza paracyclist: I was a footballer before losing my legHazem Suleiman and the team he captains were practising for the Paris Paralympics until the war. Now he cycles streets where everything is in ruins
Read more »
These characters could have sprung from a steampunk Agatha ChristieSarah Brooks’ fantasy debut is set on the Trans-Siberian Express.
Read more »