Transgender Paralympian makes emotional statement after failing to make women’s 400m finals

A transgender runner competing at the 2024 Paralympics was left issuing an emotional statement after failing to get in to the final of the women's 400 metres.

Valentina Petrillo caused headlines in the lead up to the Paralympics in Paris, with the 51-year-old setting her sights on glory in the T12 classification of the women's 400m.

Having transitioned five years ago, Petrillo was selected to represent Italy in the 200m and 400m in Paris. Her sporting career before transitioning saw her win 11 national titles in the men's category.

Petrillo after missing out on the women's T12 400m final (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Petrillo won bronze medals in both the 200m and 400m at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2023, meaning confidence was high when it came to securing another medal at the Paralympics.

But Petrillo's inclusion in women's sport has not pleased everyone, with some speaking out against the inclusion of transgender athletes, alongside people who were born as women.

Petrillo transitioned back in 2019 (Marco Mantovani / Getty Images)

The semi-finals of the T12 400m took place on Monday night (2 September).

Petrillo only finished third in her heat, which was not enough to get through to the final and a shot at gold, silver, or bronze.

After missing out on the final, the Italian said her opponents had been 'stronger than me'. Overwhelmed by tears, she issued an emotional statement at her post-race press conference.

"I tried my best until the end, I didn’t make it, I missed the last straight,” Petrillo said.

"I pushed more than I did this morning and I tried my best. They are stronger than me, I had to go down too much, to do a 56 [­seconds].

"With 57.50, I have to be happy even if I’m a little down."

She was visibly upset at losing out on a place in the final (Marco Mantovani/Getty Images)

She added: "I’m a little down, but I hope my son will be proud of me. This is important to me because he has a trans dad, not the dad that everyone dreams of. But I hope he will be proud of me."

Petrillo was in the T12 classification due to having a visual impairment after being diagnosed with stargardt disease as a child. It usually causes vision loss in childhood or adolescence.

On her involvement in women's sport, a 2021 petition was submitted to the Italian athletics federation by more than 30 athletes asking for Petrillo to be removed from female competition.

But under rules put together by the World Para Athletics association, transgender athletes can compete in a women's competition if they are 'recognised as female under law'.

On her time at the Paralympics, Petrillo said: “We are here today, on September 2nd, 2024. Let’s mark this down as a historic day. From this day forth I don’t want to hear any more talk about discrimination or prejudice for trans people.

"Now I’ve made it, so we can all make it if I’ve made it. I’ve done my little bit and we can all make it.”