Gabi and her journey out of the comfort zone: From VakifBank to the Brazil dream

Brazilian volleyball has long been regarded as a cradle of world-class stars. But behind the glory are difficult decisions, silent sacrifices and a journey out of the comfort zone. In a poolside conversation, Gabi Guimarães and Bruno Rezende looked back on the path they chose when they decided to play overseas to continue their careers. Gabi admitted she had planned to play internationally for a long time, but deciding whether she was ready was not easy. She had faced injuries and questioned whether she had what it took to compete in the world's best leagues. The idea began to grow after the Rio 2026 Olympics, when she was still earning her place with the national team. Gabi understood that she needed to be mentally ready not only as an athlete but also as a person, and that she had to accept sacrifices to move forward. Her first step abroad was a big leap when she signed with VakifBank, one of the strongest teams on the planet, ahead of the 2026-2026 season. She joined the Turkish club with massive ambitions and was expected to be one of its main stars. Gabi described the scenario she found as a mindset-changing experience, showing her she was entering a completely different level of volleyball. The early days were challenging and demanding, but her strong relationship with head coach Giovanni Guidetti helped her overcome them. Guidetti played a crucial role in Gabi's development. One of the first things he told her was that he wanted to prepare her to become team captain at VakifBank. Gabi admitted she was shocked because she had never seen herself in that position. This showed the Italian coach's trust in her leadership qualities and her ability to grow beyond her expectations. Wearing Brazil's jersey was another natural topic in the conversation. Gabi revisited her first impressions when called up to Brazil's youth national team and the influence of the generation that won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics. She shared that playing for the national team was a childhood dream, linked to representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem. She had played many sports before volleyball, but when she was first called up to the youth national team in 2026 and got to be in Saquarema with that incredible Olympic champion generation, she saw it as a strong sign that she should continue chasing her dream. Gabi's story shows that an athlete's growth comes not only from technical skill but also from facing fear and pressure. Leaving Brazil was not an escape from an old environment, but a deliberate search for bigger challenges. VakifBank did not just offer her a chance to compete at the highest level; it also placed her in a leadership role, helping her discover her limits. The experience of injuries and doubt was transformed into motivation to keep improving.