Valentina Petrillo, a visually impaired sprinter from Italy, is set to make history as the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympic Games. At 50 years old, Petrillo will represent Italy in the women’s T12 200m and 400m events at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Having transitioned in 2019, Petrillo’s selection is a landmark moment for transgender inclusion in elite parasport. Describing her participation as “an important symbol of inclusion,” Petrillo has continued to excel in her sport, winning bronze medals in both the 200m and 400m events at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. However, all is not well in paradise. The inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports is still a matter of intense debate. In March 2023, World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, introduced a ban on transgender women who have undergone male puberty from competing in elite female events at the international level. Opponents of transgender inclusion argue that those who have experienced male puberty may retain physical advantages even after transitioning, while supporters view such exclusions as discriminatory. Transgender athlete policies differ across sports. While World Athletics has imposed a ban, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) allows each sport to set its own guidelines. World Para Athletics currently permits individuals legally recognized as women to compete in women’s events. The Paris Paralympic Games will take place from 28 August to 8 September 2024. #Trans Rights