Larissa França Maestrini (born April 14, 1982) is a Brazilian beach volleyball player. 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.

She was inducted to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2023.

Career

With Felisberta, França won two Pan American Games titles (in 2007 and 2011) and the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. 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.

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. The pair lost in straight sets to Ludwig and Walkenhosrt in the semifinal match. Next they went for bronze. 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.

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

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded byAdriana Behar and Shelda Bede (BRA)Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner alongside Brazil Juliana Silva 2005–2007Succeeded byAna Paula Connelly and Shelda Bede (BRA)
Preceded byAna Paula Connelly and Shelda Bede (BRA)Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner alongside Brazil Juliana Silva 2009–2012Succeeded byTalita Antunes and Taiana Lima (BRA)
Preceded byMaria Antonelli and Juliana Silva (BRA)Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner alongside Brazil Talita Antunes 2015Succeeded byLaura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Preceded byLaura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst (GER)Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner alongside Brazil Talita Antunes 2017Succeeded byIncumbent
Awards
Preceded byMisty May-Treanor (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender" 2009Succeeded byZhang Xi (CHN)
Preceded byMisty May-Treanor (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender" 2012Succeeded byLaura Ludwig (GER)
Preceded byLaura Ludwig (GER)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender" 2014Succeeded byHeather Bansley (CAN)
Preceded byKerri Walsh (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Hitter" 2008Succeeded byApril Ross (USA)
Preceded byApril Ross (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Hitter" 2010Succeeded byApril Ross (USA)
Preceded byKerri Walsh Jennings (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Attacker" 2015–Succeeded byIncumbent
Preceded byMisty May-Treanor (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter" 2006–2012Succeeded byIlka Semmler (GER)
Preceded byIlka Semmler (GER)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter" 2014Succeeded byMarleen van Iersel (NED)
Preceded byMarleen van Iersel (NED)Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Setter" 2016–Succeeded byIncumbent
Preceded byMisty May-Treanor (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Outstanding" 2006Succeeded byKerri Walsh (USA)
Preceded byKerri Walsh Jennings (USA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Outstanding" 2015Succeeded byLaura Ludwig (GER)
Preceded byInauguralWomen's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year" alongside Brazil Juliana Silva 2005–2007Succeeded byAna Paula Connelly and Shelda Bede (BRA)
Preceded byAna Paula Connelly and Shelda Bede (BRA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year" alongside Brazil Juliana Silva 2009–2012Succeeded byTalita Antunes and Taiana Lima (BRA)
Preceded byMaria Antonelli and Juliana Silva (BRA)Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year" alongside Brazil Talita Antunes 2015Succeeded byLaura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst (GER)
Preceded byLaura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst (GER)Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year" alongside Brazil Talita Antunes 2017Succeeded byIncumbent