Gabi recalls journey leaving Brazil: From fear to peak with VakifBank

Sitting by a pristine pool, Bruno and Gabi discussed the challenging process they faced when making the difficult decision to leave 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 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.” Gabi recalls that her first step overseas was a big one, as she decided to sign with Turkish giants VakifBank ahead of the 2026-2026 season. “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. “One of the first things Guidetti 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 conversation, and Gabi revisited her first impressions when called up to Brazil’s youth national teams and the influence of the generation that won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics. “To play for the national team is really a childhood dream,” she said.