Italy's Valentina Petrillo trains in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy. Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympic Games at the end of this month in Paris.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first ever transgender woman to compete at the Paris Paralympic Games. At 50 years of age, Petrillo will run in the 200 and 400 meters races in the T12 classification for visually impaired athletes in Paris. She's lived most of her life as a man and only came out as transgender to her wife - with whom she has a son - in 2017 before beginning hormone therapy two years later.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo trains in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy. Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympic Games at the end of this month in Paris.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo trains in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo trains in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo trains in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo wears her spiked shoes before training in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.
Italy's Valentina Petrillo walks before training in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna, Italy.