Leila Barros


Leila Gomes de Barros 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, winning the 1996 and 1998 editions of the volleyball Grand Prix and being rated the most valuable player in each win.

Volleyball career

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. 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.