Valentina Petrillo, the Italian transgender Paralympic sprinter, has hit back at author J.K. Rowling for calling her an “open and proud fraud”.
“J.K. Rowling only cares about me using the ladies' toilet, but she knows nothing about me,” Petrillo said. TimesUK based newspaper.
“Just one thing [openly transgender] I am someone who has participated in the Paralympics. The fear that transgender people will destroy the world [of women’s sport] It doesn't actually exist,” Petrillo said later. “People don't know that. [a lot of] Men are competing as women just to win, and that's not happening at all. This is just transphobia.”
The “Harry Potter” author criticized Petrillo, who competed at the Paralympics in Paris last week and became the first transgender athlete to reach the semifinals in the T12 blind and visually impaired 200 and 400 meters.
The 51-year-old athlete, who had a gender transition in 2019, said she was welcomed by athletes in the Olympic Village, despite protests from Rowling and others about her inclusion.
“It was the perfect life. It was amazing. Everyone was so welcoming,” Petrillo said of the Olympic Village. “I know on the outside it's not the same as it was before. I hope this is the start of change for transgender people.”
Petrillo will adhere to the World Para Athletics rules and International Olympic Committee GuidelinesTransgender athletes will be allowed to compete as long as they are legally recognized as women.
Rowling has not shied away from controversy surrounding the 2024 Olympics. Imane Kherif, the Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist whose gender identity was questioned at this year's games, is suing Rowling and other influential figures for “vicious cyber harassment.”
