Valentina Petrillo’s remarkable journey at the Paralympic Games has come to an end, but the 51-year-old sprinter is hopeful that her participation marks the beginning of significant change for transgender athletes. In a candid interview with the UK Times on Monday, Petrillo, who transitioned from male to female in 2019, addressed the ongoing transphobia she has faced, including comments from high-profile figures like JK Rowling.

Petrillo, a visually impaired Italian athlete, has been vocal about the prejudice she encounters. “Rowling is only concerned about the fact that I use the female toilet, but she doesn’t know anything about me,” Petrillo stated. She highlighted what she describes as an “information problem,” suggesting that much of the criticism directed at trans athletes stems from a lack of understanding and deep-seated bias. “People said men would go to compete as women just so they could win, but that has not happened at all,” she asserted, emphasizing that such claims are unfounded.

The controversy intensified when JK Rowling criticized Algerian boxer Imane Khelif for competing as a woman in the Paris Olympics, despite Khelif being born a biological female and identifying as such. Rowling’s latest target is Petrillo, who recently qualified for the semifinals in the women’s T12 400-meter race at the Paralympics. Following Petrillo’s qualification, Rowling took to X to express her discontent. “Why all the anger about the inspirational Petrillo? The cheat community has never had this kind of visibility!” Rowling posted, further inflaming the debate.

Rowling’s comments were sharply critical, with the author comparing Petrillo to a “cheat” and sarcastically suggesting that the era of “cheat-shaming” is over. “Out and proud cheats like Petrillo prove the era of cheat-shaming is over. What a role model! I say we give Lance Armstrong his medals back and move on,” Rowling wrote, ending her post with the hashtags #Cheat and #NoShame.

Petrillo, who previously competed in men’s track and field events and won several national titles, was permitted to compete in the women’s category at the Paralympics under World Para Athletics regulations. These rules allow athletes who are legally recognized as women and have maintained testosterone levels below a specific threshold for at least a year to participate.

Despite her impressive career, Petrillo’s performance in this year’s Paralympics did not meet her hopes. After advancing to the semifinals, she finished third, missing out on a spot in the finals and the chance for a gold medal. Andrew Parsons, the head of the International Paralympic Committee, had expressed support for Petrillo’s participation, hoping that the sports world would find unity over transgender policies. However, not everyone shared this sentiment. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova criticized the IPC’s policy, calling it “regressive” and sparking further debate.

As Petrillo reflects on her Paralympic experience and the criticism she has faced, she remains determined to advocate for greater understanding and acceptance of transgender athletes. Her story underscores the ongoing challenges and conversations surrounding inclusion in sports, highlighting the need for empathy and informed discussion in the face of persistent prejudice.