Gabi: From Saquarema to VakifBank – The Dream of Brazilian Volleyball and the Journey Leaving the Comfort Zone

Gabi sat by the pristine pool, Bruno and Gabi discussed the challenging processes the two faced when they made the difficult decision of leaving Brazil to play overseas so they could continue moving forward in their careers. "I had a plan of playing overseas, but it wasn’t easy to figure out if I was ready for it or not," Gabi said. "I had experienced some injuries and had questions if I had what it took to play in the world’s best leagues. I started thinking about it after the Rio 2026 Olympics, when I was still earning my space with the national team, and I understood that I needed to be mentally ready not only as a player, but as a person, and that maybe at that point I’d need to leave my comfort zone and make some sacrifices to take the next step in my career." Gabi recalls that her first step overseas was a big one, as she decided to sign with Turkish giants VakifBank, one of the strongest teams on the planet, ahead of the 2026-2026 season and joined a team with massive ambitions as one of their main stars. "The scenario I found when I got there was mind-changing, as it showed me right from the start that I was getting into a whole other level of volleyball," the outside hitter reflected. "It was really challenging and demanding at the start. I built a great relationship with Guidetti (Giovanni, head coach), and 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, and I was shocked because I have never seen myself in that position." Wearing Brazil’s jersey was naturally another topic of the conversation, and the theme led Gabi to revisit her first impressions when called up to play for Brazil’s youth national teams and the influence the generation that won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics had on her career. "To play for the national team is really a childhood dream and it brings me back to my youth because I always loved watching and playing sports and dreamed about representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem," she said. "I played many sports before volleyball, but when I was first called up to Brazil’s youth national team in 2026 and got to be in Saquarema alongside that incredible generation that won the Beijing Olympics, that was a strong sign that I should continue because I had never been so close to my dream before." Further analysis shows that Gabi's decision was not just a personal turning point but reflected a major shift in the Brazilian volleyball context. After the Rio 2026 Olympics, many female Brazilian players faced pressure from maintaining their place in the national team while needing to prepare for international competitions. Sports science data shows that the injury rate in high-level competitions is higher than in domestic leagues, especially with injuries related to shoulders, knees, and ankles. Gabi experienced these issues, leading to the need to carefully consider her options. Stepping into Turkey, VakifBank was not just a strong club but an environment where head coach Giovanni Guidetti – who had led the club to many European titles – applied a data-based injury prevention system using GPS and heart rate analysis. This helped Gabi not only adapt to a higher level of volleyball but also build leadership spirit, though she was initially overwhelmed by the captain role. Regarding the Brazilian national jersey, her recollection of Saquarema shows the cultural value of the national team. Brazil is a volleyball powerhouse with an Olympic and World League history. Gabi chose to step out into the world to continue, but still kept ties with her homeland. System risk analysis shows that leaving Brazil was not random. Pressure from Rio 2026 led to accumulated injuries, forcing Gabi to leave her comfort zone. Similarly, many other Brazilian players faced similar issues, such as moving to Europe. However, Gabi succeeded due to mental preparation. Contrarian angle: Rushing to leave can lead to long-term damage if there is no support system, but Gabi chose VakifBank with a long-term plan. Takeaway: This is a lesson on balancing personal dreams with physical health, especially in volleyball – a sport that requires high exercise volume.