Leila Barros

Leila Gomes de Barros (born September 30, 1971)[1] is a Brazilian politician and a former volleyball player. She often played as opposite hitter and attacker. She was a member of the Brazilian squad who had great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s (decade), winning the 1996 and 1998 editions of the volleyball Grand Prix and being rated the most valuable player (MVP) in each win.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Gomes and the second or paternal family name is de Barros.

Leila Barros
Barros' official portrait as senator
Senator for Federal District
Incumbent
Assumed office February 1, 2019
Personal details
Born	Leila Gomes de Barros September 30, 1971 (1971-09-30) (age 48) Brasília, DF, Brazil
Political party	PSB (Since 2018)

Leila Barros
Personal information
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Spike	3.00 m (118 in)
Block	2.91 m (115 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Opposite spiker
Current club	Retired
Honours Women's volleyball Representing  Brazil Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta Team 2000 Sidney Team World Cup 1995 Japan 1999 Japan World Grand Prix 1994 Shanghai 1996 Shanghai 1998 Hong Kong 2004 Reggio Calabria 1995 Shanghai 1999 Yu Xi 2000 Manila Pan American Games 1999 Winnipeg Women's beach volleyball FIVB World Tour 2006 Canada Open Beach 2006 Brazil Open Beach 2005 Russia Open Beach 2006 Norway Grand Slam Beach 2006 France Open Beach 2006 France Grand Slam Beach 2006 Poland Open Beach

Volleyball career

Leila Barros during her voleyball career in 2007

Barros started competing in volleyball at the age of fifteen. She switched to beach volleyball in July 2001, but returned to the indoor courts in 2003 in order to help the Brazil women's national volleyball team to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

In the Volleyball Women's World Cups, Barros finished as runners-up in 1995 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup and 2003 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, won third place in 1999 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup.[2] She also got silver medals in the 1994 World Championships. In the Olympics, her Brazilian team was 3rd in 1996 and 2000. She has also posed in several magazines and was one of the favorite players when she and the Brazilian volleyball team came to the Philippines.

Political career

In October 2018, Barros became the first woman to represent the Federal District of Brazil in the Senate.[3]

References

1. "Leila Barros profile". Volleyball Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
2. Krastev, Todor. "Women Volleyball VIII World Cup 1999 02-16.11 Japan +9GMT - Winner Cuba". todor66.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
3. Amorozo, Marcos. "Leila do Vôlei é a primeira mulher eleita para o Senado no Distrito Federal" [Leila do Vôlei is the first woman elected for the Senate in Federal District]. correiobraziliense.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 March 2020.

Awards
Preceded by Tara Cross-Battle Yevgeniya Artamonova	Most Valuable Player of FIVB World Grand Prix 1996 1998	Succeeded by Yevgeniya Artamonova Virna Dias
Preceded by Maurren Maggi	Brazilian Sportswomen of the Year 2000	Succeeded by Daniele Hypólito
Preceded by  Vassiliki Arvaniti (GRE)	Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Improved" 2006	Succeeded by  Laura Ludwig (GER)  Tamsin Barnett (AUS)