Gabi Shares Her Journey Leaving Brazil for Turkey to Advance Volleyball Career

Sitting by a 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.” In this conversation, Gabi not only focused on personal difficulties but also emphasized the role of leaving the safety zone. She shared that leaving Brazil is not only about physical but also about mental maturity. Many Brazilian volleyball players face pressure from family and the nation when they decide to go overseas. Gabi realized that only sacrifice leads to success. She took a lot of time to prepare mentally for this step, including learning to adapt to new culture, language and different playing styles in Turkey. VakifBank is a team famous for its success in women's volleyball, they often win major titles. When Gabi joined, she was expected to be one of the main pillars. Coach Giovanni Guidetti had a long-term vision, not only focusing on volleyball skills but also developing personality and leadership skills for Gabi. Pointing out that he wanted her to be team captain is an important gesture, helping her realize her own potential. Regarding national dream, Gabi always dreams of representing Brazil. She recalls the days in Saquarema, where she was trained by people who once won gold at the 2026 Olympics. That generation inspired many young people like Gabi. They are not only players but also symbols for the next generation. Gabi believes that playing for the national team will be the pinnacle of her career, where she can bring glory to the country. In addition, playing overseas also requires great sacrifice. Gabi had to leave her family, friends, and familiar environment. She had to learn to adapt to the climate, food, and way of life in Turkey. These challenges have trained her physically and mentally. Many volleyball players like Gabi have succeeded thanks to perseverance and determination. Overall, Gabi's journey is a lesson in courage when facing challenges to pursue passion. She has proven that with careful preparation, a player can overcome all barriers to achieve greatness. Sitting by a 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.” In this conversation, Gabi not only focused on personal difficulties but also emphasized the role of leaving the safety zone. She shared that leaving Brazil is not only about physical but also about mental maturity. Many Brazilian volleyball players face pressure from family and the nation when they decide to go overseas. Gabi realized that only sacrifice leads to success. She took a lot of time to prepare mentally for this step, including learning to adapt to new culture, language and different playing styles in Turkey. VakifBank is a team famous for its success in women's volleyball, they often win major titles. When Gabi joined, she was expected to be one of the main pillars. Coach Giovanni Guidetti had a long-term vision, not only focusing on volleyball skills but also developing personality and leadership skills for Gabi. Pointing out that he wanted her to be team captain is an important gesture, helping her realize her own potential. Regarding national dream, Gabi always dreams of representing Brazil. She recalls the days in Saquarema, where she was trained by people who once won gold at the 2026 Olympics. That generation inspired many young people like Gabi. They are not only players but also symbols for the next generation. Gabi believes that playing for the national team will be the pinnacle of her career, where she can bring glory to the country. In addition, playing overseas also requires great sacrifice. Gabi had to leave her family, friends, and familiar environment. She had to learn to adapt to the climate, food, and way of life in Turkey. These challenges have trained her physically and mentally. Many volleyball players like Gabi have succeeded thanks to perseverance and determination. Overall, Gabi's journey is a lesson in courage when facing challenges to pursue passion. She has proven that with careful preparation, a player can overcome all barriers to achieve greatness.