Larissa França

{{Infobox volleyball biography

| name = Larissa França

| image = Grand Slam Moscow 2012, Set 3 - 048.jpg

| caption = França at the Grand Slam Moscow on September 3, 2012

| fullname =

| nickname = Larissa

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|04|14}}

| birth_place = Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, ES, Brazil

| death_date =

| death_place =

| hometown = Fortaleza, Brazil

| height = {{convert|1.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|68|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| currentteammate = Lili Maestrini

| currenttours (currentpoints) =

| years = 2004-12
2002-03

| teammates = Juliana Silva
Ana Richa

| tours (points) =

| resultyears =

| location =

| result =

| updated =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{BRA}} }}

}}

Larissa França Maestrini{{cite web|url=http://www.fivb.org/EN/Beachvolleyball/Player_DataDB.asp?No=103903|title=PLAYERS' DATABASE: Athlete's biography|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Volleyball|accessdate=11 November 2017}} (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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/larissa-named-top-player-of-world-tour?id=57966 |title=Larissa named top player of World Tour 2015 |accessdate=17 October 2015 |publisher=FIVB |date=15 October 2015}}

She was inducted to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2023.[https://volleyballmag.com/2023-international-hall-of-fame-induction-class-052223/ 2023 Volleyball Hall class includes Phil Dalhausser, Larissa, Katsutoshi Nekoda, Yumilka Ruiz]

Career

With Felisberta, França won two Pan American Games titles (in 2007 and 2011){{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1107/olympics-2012-olympians-to-watch/content.44.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205081441/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1107/olympics-2012-olympians-to-watch/content.44.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2011 |title=SI |website=sportsillustrated.cnn.com}} and the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/beach-volleyball/beach-volleyball-w |title=Beach volleyball women's results - London 2012 Olympics |website=Olympic.org}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/WorldTour/2015/Event/Results.asp?TournCode=WSSF2015&Phase=2 |title=Ft. Lauderdale Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals - Match Schedule / Results |publisher=FIVB}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fivb.org/en/BeachVolleyball/viewPressRelease.asp?No=64335&Language=en|title = FIVB - Volleyball}} The pair lost in straight sets to Ludwig and Walkenhosrt in the semifinal match. Next they went for bronze.[http://rio2016.fivb.com/en/beachvolleyball/news/ludwig--walkenhorst-dominate-brazilians-for-golden?id=64423 Ludwig & Walkenhorst dominate Brazilians for golden Beach berth] 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.{{Cite news |title=The Biggest Medal Upsets at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-biggest-medal-upsets-at-the-2016-rio-summer-olympics |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Daily Beast|date=19 August 2016 |last1=Warshaw |first1=Amelia }}

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.[http://www.diariodopara.com.br/impressao.php?idnot=74702 Larissa França: rainha das quadras de areia], Diário do Pará {{in lang|pt}}

In August 2013, França married fellow female player Liliane Maestrini,{{cite web |url=http://extra.globo.com/famosos/retratos-da-bola/larissa-lili-do-volei-de-praia-se-casam-em-praia-de-fortaleza-com-vestido-branco-buque-9351087.html |title=Larissa e Lili, do vôlei de praia, se casam em praia de Fortaleza com vestido branco e buquê |publisher=Jornal Extra Online |accessdate=28 August 2013 |language=Portuguese}} about one month after they came out about their relationship.{{cite web |url=http://www.volleywood.net/volleyball-features/in-the-spotlight/larissa-franca-comes-out-of-the-closet/ |title=Larissa França: I am gay |date=11 July 2013 |publisher=Volleywood |accessdate=28 August 2013}}