Maria Antonelli

Maria Elisa Mendes Ticon Antonelli was born on February 25, 1984, in Resende, Brazil. She established herself as a significant presence in beach volleyball, representing Brazil in various international competitions. Her career highlights include competing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she partnered with Talita Antunes. The pair advanced from Group E but were subsequently eliminated in the last 16 by the Czech team of Kristýna Kolocová and Markéta Sluková. Antonelli’s continued dedication to the sport saw her achieve a bronze medal at the 2015 Beach Volleyball World Championships in The Hague, competing alongside Juliana Silva.

Throughout her career, Antonelli formed notable partnerships, demonstrating her adaptability and consistent performance. Between 2009 and 2012, she partnered with Talita Antunes, including their Olympic appearance. Later, she achieved success with Juliana Silva, culminating in their 2014 recognition as the Women’s FIVB Beach World Tour Winner and “Team of the Year.” Even toward the end of her playing career, Antonelli showed resilience. After a break for the birth of her son, Lucca, in July 2020, she made a return to the sand in February 2021, once again partnering with Talita Antunes for events such as the Brazilian Beach Volleyball Circuit and the 4-star World Tour tournament in Doha. She officially concluded her playing career at a later stage, bidding farewell to the sport.