Valentina Petrillo’s book Più veloce del tempo. Il viaggio della prima atleta transgender verso la felicità is not just the autobiography of an athlete, but a chronicle of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of authenticity. Written with journalists Claudio Arrigoni and Ilaria Leccardi, the volume takes the reader on a journey through the triumphs and obstacles of a woman who challenged both disability and prejudice to make history in the world of sport. Valentina’s voice carries the energy of the track, where each race has been a metaphor for survival, redemption, and freedom. She reminds us that running was never simply about speed. For her, athletics represented a way out, a chance to breathe, and a path to rediscover herself. On the track she found meaning, motivation, and answers when life’s difficulties seemed overwhelming. It was her revenge against the injustices of fate and her claim to a life lived on her own terms.
Born in Naples in 1973, Valentina grew up with a passion for running, inspired by the legendary Italian sprinter Pietro Mennea. Yet at the age of fourteen her life was transformed by Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition that gradually compromised her vision. What might have seemed like the end of a sporting dream became instead the beginning of another path. She turned to five-a-side football for the visually impaired, earning a place on the Italian national team. But deep inside, her first love remained athletics, and in 2014 she returned to the track, winning multiple national titles in the men’s category. Even then, her real race had yet to begin.
