Gabi opens up on leaving Brazil: VakifBank was a big shock, Guidetti surprised her with captaincy promise

The conversation between Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimaraes by the pool was not only a moment for two Brazilian volleyball stars to revisit memories. It was a rare explanation of the pain, doubts and turning points an athlete faces when deciding to leave home to compete at the highest level. Gabi admitted that leaving Brazil was difficult. After the Rio 2026 Olympics, she began to question whether she was ready to leave her comfort zone. She had experienced injuries and wondered if she could play in the world's best leagues. She understood she needed to be mentally ready not only as a player but as a person. Her first big step was signing with VakifBank before the 2026-2026 season. Gabi recalled that arriving at VakifBank showed her a completely different level of volleyball. It was challenging and demanding at the start. She built a strong relationship with coach Giovanni Guidetti, who surprised her by saying he wanted to prepare her to become team captain. She had never seen herself in that role, but the belief of a top coach changed her vision. She also spoke about wearing Brazil's jersey and revisiting her youth. The first time she was called up to Brazil's youth national team in 2026 and stood in Saquarema alongside the generation that won gold at the Beijing Olympics was a powerful sign that she should keep going. This story shows that player moves are not only business decisions. Behind every contract is a human being with doubts, dreams and sacrifices. For Vietnamese volleyball, this is a reminder that mental readiness is just as important as talent when athletes leave home to test themselves abroad.