Mayssa Pessoa

Mayssa Pessoa

Mayssa in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Mayssa Raquel de Oliveira Pessoa
Born	11 September 1984 João Pessoa, Brazil
Nationality	Brazilian
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Nickname	Taffarel
Club information
Current club	ŽRK Vardar
Number	84
Senior clubs
2011–2012 2012–2014 2014–2016 2016–	Colégio Lourdinhas Issy-Paris Hand Dinamo Volgograd CSM București ŽRK Vardar
National team
	Brazil	76 (0)
Medal record Representing  Brazil Women's handball World Championship 2013 Serbia Team Pan American Games 2015 Toronto Team Pan American Championship 2013 Dominican Republic Team Women's beach handball World Games 2005 Duisburg Team

Mayssa Raquel de Oliveira Pessoa, also known as Mayssa Pessoa or simply Mayssa (born 11 September 1984)^[1] is a Brazilian female handball goalkeeper who plays for ŽRK Vardar and the Brazilian national team. She was one of nearly two dozen LGBT Olympians at the London Games.^[2][3][4][5]

Achievements

• Romanian National League:
  • Winner: 2015, 2016
• Romanian Cup:
  • Finalist: 2015
• EHF Champions League:
  • Winner: 2016
• Russian Super League:
  • Winner: 2013, 2014
• French Championship:
  • Silver Medalist: 2012
• World Championship:
  • Winner: 2013
• Pan American Championship:
  • Winner: 2013
• World Games:
  • Winner: 2005

Awards and recognition

• All-Star Goalkeeper of the Pan American Championship: 2013
• MVP of the Bucharest Trophy: 2014^[6]
• Team of the Tournament Goalkeeper of the Bucharest Trophy: 2014,^[6] 2015

Personal life

Pessoa comes from a family of intellectuals. Nicknamed Taffarel, she resides in the same city with Hulk (João Pessoa). Her father is a university professor and a former athlete who competed in handball, volleyball, basketball, futsal and beach handball. Her mother is a lawyer, and one of her two sisters is a pediatrician.^[7]

References

1. "Profile at eurohandball.com". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
2. Williams, Ken. (5 August 2012) Gay Watch at the Olympics: Lisa Raymond wins bronze in mixed doubles with teammate Mike Bryan. Sdgln.com. Retrieved on 5 August 2016.
3. 23 openly gay and lesbian athletes at 2012 London Summer Olympics. Outsports.com. Retrieved on 5 August 2016.
4. Em perfil oficial, goleira reserva do handebol brasileiro assume ser bissexual – O Dia. Odia.ig.com.br (6 October 2014). Retrieved on 5 August 2016.
5. Mayssa. cob.org.br
6. "We are the champions! CSM a câștigat Bucharest Trophy 2014" (in Romanian). bucharest-trophy.ro. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
7. Brazilianca de la CSM recunoaște curajos: e lesbiană! Handbalista Mayssa Pessoa vorbește deschis despre orientarea ei sexuală | EXCLUSIV | Alte sporturi, Ştiri interne. Libertatea.ro. Retrieved on 5 August 2016.