Talita Antunes

Brazilian volleyball champion Talita Antunes rose swiftly from Rookie of the Year in 2005 to play in two Olympic Games and earn back to back gold medals at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach World Tour in 2013 and 2015. Born Talita Antunes da Rocha in Aquidauana, Brazil on August 29, 1982, she began her professional career at the age of 19 when she was invited to train with Olympic champion Jacqueline Silva. The duo became partners in 2002 and won the South American Championship that same year, but an injury forced Silva to drop out soon after. Antunes then partnered with Renata Ribero, with whom she captured a number of significant FIVB competitions before teaming with Tais Jesus in 2003. Antunes' string of successes minted her as the FIVB's World Rookie of the Year in 2005, the same year she reunited with Ribero. The duo represented Brazil at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but lost the bronze medal after a challenging match against a Chinese team. The following year, Antunes teamed with a new partner, Maria Elisa Antonelli, with whom she reached second in world ranking on the strength of wins at the 2009 Swatch VIB tour and a bronze at the World Championships that same year. In 2012, the duo competed at the London Olympics, where they reached ninth place, but the following year, they captured the top prize at the World Cup in Antunes' native country. The following year, Antunes teamed with Taiana Lima for a string of major wins, including the Women's FIV Beach World Tour, during which Antunes was named Best Blocker, Best Hitter and Best Attacker. In 2014, she forged a new team with Larissa Franca, with whom she defeated her former partner, Maria Antonelli, to win her second Swatch FIVB World Tour gold medal. The win paved the way for Antunes and Franca to join the Brazilian national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.