Leila Gomes de Barros (born 30 September 1971)[2] is a Brazilian politician and former volleyball player. She often played as opposite hitter and attacker. She was a member of the Brazilian squad that had great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning the 1996 and 1998 editions of the FIVB World Grand Prix and being rated the Most Valuable Player in each win.

Leila Barros
Barros' official portrait as senator
Senator for the Federal District
Assumed office
1 February 2019
Senate PSB Leader
In office
12 January 2021 – 19 August 2021
Preceded byVeneziano Vital do Rêgo
Personal details
Born
Leila Gomes de Barros

(1971-09-30) 30 September 1971 (age 53)
Taguatinga, Federal District, Brazil[1]
Political partyPDT (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
(m. 2003)
ChildrenLukas (b. 2011)
Volleyball career
Personal information
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Spike3.00 m (118 in)
Block2.91 m (115 in)
Volleyball information
PositionOpposite spiker
Number8

Volleyball career

edit
 
Leila Barros during her volleyball 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 to help the Brazil women's national volleyball team to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Barros finished in second place in the 1995 and 2003 FIVB World Cup, and won third place in 1999 FIVB World Cup.[3] She also won a silver medal in the 1994 FIVB World Championship. In the Olympics, her Brazilian team won the bronze medal in 1996 and 2000. She has also posed in several magazines, and was one of the most popular players when the Brazilian volleyball team came to the Philippines.

Political career

edit

In October 2018, Barros became the first woman to represent the Federal District of Brazil in the Senate.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Biografia de Leila Barros". Leila Barros. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Leila Barros profile". Volleyball Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  3. ^ Krastev, Todor. "Women Volleyball VIII World Cup 1999 02-16.11 Japan +9GMT - Winner Cuba". Todor66.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. ^ 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.
edit
Awards
Preceded by Most Valuable Player of
FIVB World Grand Prix

1996
1998
Succeeded by
Preceded by Brazilian Sportswomen of the Year
2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Improved"
2006
Succeeded by
  Laura Ludwig (GER)
  Tamsin Barnett (AUS)
Federal Senate
Preceded by
Veneziano Vital do Rêgo
Senate PSB Leader
2021
None