Larissa Franca

Sport: Beach Volleyball

Nation: Brazil

DOB: April 14, 1982

Hometown: Cachoeira de Itapemiriam

Career Highlights: Arguably the world’s top setter in beach volleyball after being named the FIVB’s best six years running, Larissa and partner Juliana are the primary threats to the U.S. duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh to repeat as gold medal champions in London. Larissa, who will be participating in her second Olympics after placing fifth with Ana Paula in Beijing in 2008, had six of her FIVB career-leading 43 victories in 2011, highlighted by the world championships victory over May-Treanor and Walsh as they finished third in overall points. She and Juliana are six-time FIVB Tour Champion and Team of the Year winners and have been a dominant force since first partnering in 2004. Larissa has three Pan Am Games medals, taking the bronze in 2003 before winning when Brazil hosted in 2007 and securing gold again in 2011.

Olympic History: 2008