Tifanny Abreu is the first trans athlete to compete in the Volleyball Superliga

Tifanny Abreu discovered volleyball while watching her neighbor’s television and saw in the sport the possibility of being who she really is: the first trans woman to compete in the Women’s Superliga. So, read the article about Tifanny’s fight.

sportswoman’s life

Tifanny Pereira de Abreu was born on October 29, 1984, in Conceição do Araguaia, Pará. She is the youngest of seven siblings and came from a humble family. The athlete reports that she has always worked to help at home.

Thus, she found in volleyball the chance to fulfill her dreams. Being born into a humble birth, Tifanny had no idea what transsexuality was all about, but she always felt like she didn’t identify with her gender.

He started his professional career in teams from Juiz de Fora and Foz do Iguaçu, in the Men’s Superliga B and also in European countries. But starting in 2012, she decided to put volleyball on the back burner and make the gender transition.

The athlete explains that back then, she was tired of pretending to be someone she wasn’t. Tifanny paid for the treatment and stayed away from the courts for two years. The support of family and friends was essential to face this moment.

First trans athlete in the Women’s Superliga

The debate about the presence of trans people in sport began in the 1990s, at the International Olympic Committee. The release came only in 2003, with the mandatory sex reassignment surgery and hormone treatment for at least two years.

In 2015, the guidelines changed as surgery was no longer mandatory and treatment changed to one year. In the case of women, the main requirement is to have a testosterone level below 10 nmol/L of blood. Since then, only one trans athlete has participated in the Olympics: New Zealand powerlifter Laurel Hubbard at Tokyo 2020.

In 2012, after years of depression, Tiffany realized she needed to experience the transition and put volleyball aside. As she didn’t know what her body’s reactions would be to hormones, she even thought that she would never play the sport again.

After five years of transition and living in Europe, she was invited to play in Belgium and received authorization from the IOC, the International Volleyball Federation and the CBV to play in a women’s team. She then went to Italy, when an invitation came to train at Sesi Bauru’s facilities in São Paulo.

This is how Tifanny Abreu entered history, being the first transgender woman to play in a Superliga match. Since 2021 she represents Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde. She is married to football player Victor Emmanoel Metz.

The athlete also revealed that the beginning of the transition was difficult, mainly because Brazil is the country that kills the most trans people and transvestites worldwide. She came to suffer attacks from players and technical commissions, but she believes that people do it for lack of information.

Importance

Sport is another reflection of a society full of transphobia and other prejudices. Therefore, the representation of Tifanny is necessary to transform this intolerant environment into something welcoming and healthy.

After facing a turbulent period of acceptance, Tifanny has come to understand that her role is more important than she thought. In addition to being the first trans athlete, she set an example for several Brazilians. Therefore, debate and visibility are ways for the sports area to evolve and guarantee rights for these athletes.

Unfortunately, there is no consensus in the organizations, however, the presence of Tifanny has been changing sports institutions and emphasizing the struggle of transsexual athletes in Brazil and in the world.

10 facts to get to know the athlete better

Tifanny’s story is one of overcoming and a lot of determination on and off the court. So, read more about the athlete who revolutionized Brazilian sport:

1. Record holder of points in a single match

In a match for the Superliga, Tifanny broke the record that belonged to Tandara. In 2013, she scored 37 points in Campinas’ victory over Praia Clube. In 2019, when she wore the Bauru shirt, she scored 39 points, but it was not enough to beat the runner-up of that year, Praia Clube.

2. Only Brazilian athlete to be chosen to participate in the Adidas worldwide campaign

Along with Paul Pogba, Mohamed Salah, Nneka Ogwumike and singer Beyoncé, Tifanny was the only Brazilian athlete to be chosen to participate in Adidas’ worldwide campaign. With the name “Impossible in Nothing“, the series celebrates the revolutions she incited in sport.

3. Highest average points in the Superleague

The highest average ever recorded in the Women’s Superliga belongs to Tifanny who, in 2017, scored 70 points in just 3 matches. These points come to an average of 23.3 per game. Behind her, Tandara averaged 19 per game, but was ahead by the total score.

4. Has the dream of defending the Brazilian team

In an interview, Tifanny revealed that her dream is to represent the Brazilian team and she works hard to deserve the call-up. Her dream includes “seeing people playing the sport without being crucified for their color, race, gender or sexuality. I want an equal sport for everyone”, says the athlete.

5. Two-time São Paulo champion

In 2018, when she played for Sesi Bauru, she won the São Paulo volleyball championship with an intact series. She repeated this incredible feat in 2021, playing for Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde.

6. Candidate for deputy

She was a candidate for federal deputy for the state of São Paulo for the MDB party in 2018. She obtained about 3,998 votes, equivalent to 0.02%.

7. Starred in SCALON’s music video

The singer from Minas Gerais SCALON invited the player to star in the music video us for us. The song talks about prejudice and violence suffered by the LGBTQIA+ community in a pop ballad with soft melodies. In addition, the clip features actor Claudio Olegário and model Eduardo Lacov.

8. Acts in two positions

Tifanny’s versatility on the court allows her to play in two positions: opposite and pointer. The first is more focused on attack, while the second requires the player to be able to receive, defend and attack.

9. Loves music

Off the court, Tifanny’s passion involves music. On social media, the athlete posts videos dancing to the songs that go viral and always shares what she is listening to in the car when she is returning from training.

10. Symbol of the struggle of trans athletes and the LGBTQI+ community

“Knowing that that little seed I planted there in the past now bears fruit and being able to represent the LGBTQIA+ community in various parts of the world. My mother died a year ago and she has always been very proud of everything I’ve achieved. The message I can pass on is: embrace who you are and dreams are not impossible”, says the athlete.

Tifanny opened doors for trans athletes to see themselves in sport. So, she gets to know the story of Carol Gattaz and be inspired by another sportswoman who represents women’s sport.