Gabi Guimaraes and Bruno Rezende reflect on leaving Brazil to chase elite volleyball

The story does not begin on the court, but beside a pristine pool. Bruno Rezende and Gabriela Guimaraes, two prominent Brazilian volleyball players, had an open conversation about the hardest period in their careers: leaving home to play overseas. For Gabi, this was not just a contract or a transfer. She called it a decision that forced her to grow, both technically and mentally. “I had a plan to play overseas, but it wasn’t easy to know if I was ready or not,” Gabi said. “I had experienced some injuries and always wondered if I had what it took to play in the best leagues in the world.” The idea first took shape after the Rio 2026 Olympics. At that time, Gabi was still fighting for her place with the Brazilian national team. She realized that to go further, she needed to be mentally ready, not only as an athlete but also as a person. It was time to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices in order to reach a higher level. Gabi’s first step abroad was a huge leap. Before the 2026-2026 season, she signed with VakifBank, one of the strongest clubs on the planet. This was not an easy place for a newcomer. Gabi joined the Turkish club with the expectation of becoming one of its main stars, but the real challenge lay in the demanding environment she had never experienced before. “The scenario I found when I got there changed my mind completely. Right from the start, I understood I was entering a whole other level of volleyball,” the Brazilian outside hitter recalled. The beginning was truly challenging and full of pressure. Gabi had to adapt to a different training intensity, tactical demands and sporting culture. But during that process, she received great help from coach Giovanni Guidetti, who later became a key figure in her career. “I built a great relationship with Guidetti. He was incredibly important for me. One of the first things he told me was that he wanted to prepare me to be the team captain. I was shocked because I had never seen myself in that position,” Gabi shared. Guidetti’s words showed that he saw more than Gabi’s technical skills. He also saw her leadership potential. For an athlete who always questioned her own ability, that kind of trust meant everything. When the conversation turned to the Brazilian national team jersey, Gabi could not hide her emotions. She remembered her first call-up to the youth national team, a milestone that brought her closer to her childhood dream. “Playing for the national team is a childhood dream. I always loved watching and playing sports, and dreamed of representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem,” Gabi said. Before choosing volleyball, Gabi tried many other sports. But in 2026, when she was first called up to Brazil’s youth national team and arrived in Saquarema, she had the chance to be close to the golden generation that won the gold medal at the Beijing 2026 Olympics. That moment became a strong signal for her to continue on the path she had chosen. “I had never been so close to my dream before,” Gabi admitted. The image of the 2026 generation in Gabi’s story is not accidental. Those athletes did not only inspire with medals; they also created a new standard of dedication and courage. For Gabi, training under the same roof at Saquarema with the heroines of Brazilian women’s volleyball was the motivation to believe that her dream was real. Looking back at Gabi’s journey reveals an interesting paradox. Many people think Brazilian athletes move to Europe for money or fame. But for Gabi, the decision came from a deep desire to test herself in the hardest environment. She chose VakifBank not because it was the richest club, but because it was the place that forced her to become better every day. It is also worth noting that when Gabi left Brazil, she was still dealing with doubts caused by injuries. Yet those doubts became the fuel that pushed her to prove herself. Gabi did not run away from pressure; she chose to face it on the biggest stage. Gabi’s journey also shows how demanding elite sport truly is. An athlete can have talent, but without a willingness to sacrifice and leave behind family and familiarity, reaching the top becomes extremely difficult. Her story reminds us that success is not built in a single moment, but through a series of hard decisions made with courage. Bruno Rezende, sitting beside Gabi during the conversation, understood better than anyone what she had been through. As a veteran athlete who also played far from Brazil for many years, Bruno did not merely listen; he felt every emotion Gabi described. The conversation between two generations of Brazilian athletes was therefore more than an interview. It was the passing on of invaluable experience. For Gabi, playing overseas never meant losing her Brazilian identity. On the contrary, she carried the Brazilian spirit to Europe, blending warmth with tactical discipline to create a more complete version of herself. This is what helped her become one of the best outside hitters of her generation. The story by the pool between Bruno and Gabi did not end with dry advice, but with a deep understanding between two people who share the same dream. It is the dream of conquering the world, but above all, the dream of conquering their own limits. For young athletes hesitating at the doorstep of an overseas career, Gabi’s story is a sincere encouragement: the journey will not be easy, but with enough belief and preparation, it can become the biggest turning point of a career.