Valentina Petrillo, hailing from Italy, is a celebrated Paralympic athlete known for her participation in the women's 100, 200, and 400-meter T12 class visually impaired sprint. She is the first transgender person to participate in an international Paralympic Women's Championship. Petrillo not only represented Italy at the 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships but also debuted at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, qualifying for the semi-finals of the T12 women's 400 meters.

Petrillo set a new national record in the 400 meters T13 class in April 2021 and an Italian indoor record in the 200 meters in Ancona. Despite encountering anti-trans threats leading to her withdrawal from the World Masters Indoor Athletic Championships in Poland, Petrillo remained undeterred and continued to participate in international events, including the Bydgoszcz 2021 event. Her resilience is a testament to her determination and commitment to her sport.

Her journey and accomplishments have been so impactful that her story has been documented in a short film, "5 nanomoli-Il sogno olimpico di una donna trans". Petrillo continues to inspire many as a transgender athlete, breaking barriers on the world stage and proving that gender identity does not define athletic potential.

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