Transgender sprinter makes Paralympic history as Brazil's Gabrielzinho wins third gold

NEWS WIRES

31 August 2024 at 9:23 am·1-min read

Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo became the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a Paralympics on Monday, while Brazil's swimmer Gabrielzinho completed a golden treble with victory in the 200 metres freestyle S2 final.

The first openly transgender athlete in Paralympics history, Italy's visually impaired sprinter Valentina Petrillo competed in the Paris Games on Monday.

On the track at the Stade de France, Petrillo, 50, finished second in her heat of the T12 400 metres for the visually impaired, qualifying for the semi-finals.

But that proved a step too far and the Italian was eliminated despite running a personal best 57.58sec as she placed third and outside the places for the final.

Petrillo suffers from Stargardt disease, a genetic retinal condition which leads to progressive loss of vision.

Sherman Guity of Costa Rica left the world's fastest amputee sprinters in his wake as he won the eagerly awaited men's T64 100m, while 19-year-old Californian sprinter-jumper Ezra Frech claimed the first of what promises to be many track and field golds.

Amputee speed merchants

Guity charged to a clear victory in the men's T64 100m, clocking a Paralympic record of 10.65sec ahead of world champion Maxcel Amo Manu from Italy who timed 10.76sec.

A new sprint star was born as Frech won a closely-fought T63 100m final in a personal best 12.06sec.

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Amputee speed merchants

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