Larissa's early career was marked by significant achievements. She was named the World Tour's Best Player in 2006 and 2015. She also earned numerous individual awards, including Best Setter from 2006 to 2012 and 2014, Best Hitter in 2008 and 2010, and Best Defensive Player in 2009, 2012, and 2014.

Her partnership with Juliana Felisberta da Silva was particularly successful. They were named the World Tour's Team of the Year multiple times between 2005 and 2012. Larissa also formed a successful partnership with Talita Antunes, earning the same accolade in 2015.

Training Regime

Larissa's training routine is rigorous. She trains from Monday to Saturday, starting with fitness or strength work in the mornings. This is followed by massage sessions and technical work on the court in the afternoons. Another massage session concludes her day.

Personal Life

Larissa resides in Fortaleza, Brazil, with her wife Liliane Maestrini. Liliane is also a beach volleyball player who has represented Brazil internationally. The couple met in 2010 during a tournament in Switzerland and publicly announced their relationship in 2013 after same-sex marriage was approved in Brazil.

They hosted their official ceremony in August 2013. Larissa has spoken openly about the challenges they faced due to societal prejudice but emphasised that she never had issues with her sexual orientation until she met Liliane.

Injuries and Comeback

In 2002, Larissa suffered a herniated disc that kept her out of that year's World U21 Championships and almost led to her retirement. Despite this setback, she continued to excel in her career.

A few months after winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Larissa announced her retirement to try and have a baby. After three attempts at fertilisation, she decided to return to the sport in April 2014. Watching the final of the Fuzhou Open World Tour event reignited her passion for beach volleyball.

Memorable Matches

One of Larissa's most memorable matches was at the 2005 Acapulco Open in Mexico. She and Juliana played one of the longest games of beach volleyball history against Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings from the USA. The match lasted one hour and 42 minutes, ending with scores of 28-26, 40-42, and 15-13.

Philosophy and Future Plans

Larissa believes that "the best partner is the one that identifies and comprehends the difficulties of the other and helps them to overcome them." This philosophy has guided her throughout her career.

Looking ahead, Larissa aims to continue contributing to beach volleyball while balancing her personal life with Liliane. Her journey serves as an inspiration for many aspiring athletes worldwide.