Valentina Petrillo, a 48 years old visually impaired athlete, always perceived herself as a woman, even when she was running and winning competitions in the male category. She tried to comply with society's rules, marrying, having a child, striving to be a man. In 2019 she realized that this was not right for her, and started her transition and her hormone therapy. She also knew that she didn't want to give up her athletic career. For two years she tried to convince the Italian sports federations to apply the international rules regulating transgender people's participation in sports. Today, after many long battles, she is the first Italian transgender athlete competing internationally in the women's category, with her participation in the 2021 European Paralympic Championships in Poland. Her story was featured in hundreds of articles and tv appearances in Italy and abroad. Her choice to challenge unscripted societal rules is an inspiring example across continents. Despite all odds, her dream to participate in the Paralympic Games continues to drive her forward.