Behar, Adriana

Adriana Brandao Behar

Sport:
beach volleyball

Country Represented:
Brazil

Years Competed:
2000, 2004

Medals Received:
silver

Olympic Info:
Behar is a two time Olympic silver medalist. After winning silver in Athens 2004 Adriana said: "For the second time we won the silver medal, after Sydney. We really wanted the gold but we lost from a better team. It's not good to lose but I am happy for our success. As far as Beijing is concerned, if I am in good physical condition and my partner is with me I will be there."

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics Behar was a member of Brazil's women's beach volleyball team that won the silver medal.

In the 2004 Athens Olympics Adriana Behar teamed up with Shelda Bede in the beach volleyball event. The Brazilian duo defeated South Africans Leigh-Ann Naidoo and Julia Willand 21-17 in the first set, 21-10 in the second for a 42-17 score. They beat Lucilla Perrotta and Daniela Gattelli of Italy next, 42-34 in two hard fought sets. Behar and Bede continued their unbeaten run against Larrea Peraza and Fernandez Grasset of Cuba. The Brazilians won 42-33 and have topped preliminary pool B without dropping a set. Behar and Shelda finally dropped a set in their round of 16 match against Lina Yanchulova and Petia Lanchulova of Bulgaria but won 54-48 (18-21, 21-16, 15-11). The duo played compatriots Ana Paula and Sandra Pires in the quarterfinal and beat them 51-47 (21-15, 13-21, 15-13). Behar and Shelda guaranteed a medal as they secured victory over Australians Natalie Cook and Nicole Sanderson in the semifinals 42-33 (21-17, 21-16). The Brazilians were outplayed in the gold medal match by Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May 42-28 (21-17, 21-11). They settled for their second Olympic silver medal.

Career Highlights:
One of world's top beach volletball players, Behar has paired with Shelda Bede since 1995 to become one of the most formidable teams in international competition. Adriana, who began playing volleyball as a teenager, moved to the beach in 1993 and since then, has won 29 of 81 international tournaments entered! Adriana has also finished second or third in another 28.

After finishing third at the 1997 World Championships, Adriana and Shelda won the 1998 Goodwill Games, and the 1999 Beach Volleyball World Championship. They are consistently the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in every tournament they enter. In 2001, they won the World Championship, the Swiss Open, and the Spain Open, and finished ranked No. 1 in the world.

In 2002, ranked No. 2 in the world in 2002, they captured the Japan Open title for the fifth straight year. Behar and Bede won the FIVB championship five times (1997-2001). As of October 2003, they were ranked No. 3 in the world in the Olympic rankings and guaranteed a place at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Feb. 14, 1969

Origin:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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