Larissa França

Larissa França Maestrini[1] (born April 14, 1982 in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim) is a beach volleyball player from Brazil. She is the all-time leader of beach volleyball titles, with 57 FIVB career gold medals, including the 2011 Beach Volleyball World Championships with Juliana Felisberta and the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour with Talita Antunes.[2]

Larissa França
França at the Grand Slam Moscow on September 3, 2012
Personal information
NicknameLarissa
Born (1982-04-14) April 14, 1982
Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, ES, Brazil
HometownFortaleza, Brazil
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Beach volleyball information
Current teammate
Years Teammate
2014-present Talita Antunes
Previous teammates
Years Teammate
2004-12
2002-03
Juliana Silva
Ana Richa

Career

With Felisberta, França won two Pan American Games titles (in 2007 and 2011)[3] and the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[4] Four years prior, França had had to play the 2008 Summer Olympics with Ana Paula Connelly following an injury to Felisberta, finishing in fifth place. She also won the bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, partnering Ana Richa.

After a brief two year retirement following the 2012 Olympics, França went back to activity in 2014 in a double with Talita Antunes. The duo went on to win the gold medal at the 2015 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals and earn a spot into the 2016 Summer Olympics.[5]

The pair participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The pair won their quarterfinal match against the Swiss team of Joana Heidrich and Nadine Zumkehr in a nail biting match of three sets (21-23, 27–25, 15-13) in the quarter final played on August 14, 2016.[6]

The pair lost in straight sets to Ludwig and Walkenhosrt in the semifinal match. Next they went for bronze.[7] They lost to the American team of April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings in 3 sets of (21–17, 17–21, 9–15); they finished 4th.

Personal life

França was born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, and moved at a young age to the state of Pará. A sports enthusiast from her youth, she earned a volleyball scholarship in high school and went on to start her professional career at Tuna Luso Brasileira. She moved to beach volleyball in 2001, following an event held by the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation in Fortaleza.[8]

In August 2013, França married fellow female player Liliane Maestrini,[9] about one month after they came out about their relationship.[10]

References


Sporting positions
Preceded by
 Adriana Behar and
Shelda Bede (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner
alongside Juliana Silva

2005–2007
Succeeded by
 Ana Paula Connelly and
Shelda Bede (BRA)
Preceded by
 Ana Paula Connelly and
Shelda Bede (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner
alongside Juliana Silva

2009–2012
Succeeded by
 Talita Antunes and
Taiana Lima (BRA)
Preceded by
 Maria Antonelli and
Juliana Silva (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner
alongside Talita Antunes

2015
Succeeded by
 Laura Ludwig and
Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Preceded by
 Laura Ludwig and
Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner
alongside Talita Antunes

2017
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by
 Misty May-Treanor (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender"
2009
Succeeded by
 Zhang Xi (CHN)
Preceded by
 Misty May-Treanor (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender"
2012
Succeeded by
 Laura Ludwig (GER)
Preceded by
 Laura Ludwig (GER)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender"
2014
Succeeded by
 Heather Bansley (CAN)
Preceded by
 Kerri Walsh (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Hitter"
2008
Succeeded by
 April Ross (USA)
Preceded by
 April Ross (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Hitter"
2010
Succeeded by
 April Ross (USA)
Preceded by
 Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Attacker"
2015–
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
 Misty May-Treanor (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter"
2006–2012
Succeeded by
 Ilka Semmler (GER)
Preceded by
 Ilka Semmler (GER)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter"
2014
Succeeded by
 Marleen van Iersel (NED)
Preceded by
 Marleen van Iersel (NED)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter"
2016–
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
 Misty May-Treanor (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Outstanding"
2006
Succeeded by
 Kerri Walsh (USA)
Preceded by
 Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Outstanding"
2015
Succeeded by
 Laura Ludwig (GER)
Preceded by
Inaugural
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year"
alongside Juliana Silva

2005–2007
Succeeded by
 Ana Paula Connelly and
Shelda Bede (BRA)
Preceded by
 Ana Paula Connelly and
Shelda Bede (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year"
alongside Juliana Silva

2009–2012
Succeeded by
 Talita Antunes and
Taiana Lima (BRA)
Preceded by
 Maria Antonelli and
Juliana Silva (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year"
alongside Talita Antunes

2015
Succeeded by
 Laura Ludwig and
Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Preceded by
 Laura Ludwig and
Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year"
alongside Talita Antunes

2017
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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