Gabi on leaving Brazil for VakifBank: The hardest leap and the national-team dream

In a poolside conversation with Bruno Rezende, Brazilian outside hitter Gabi looked back at one of the hardest moments of her career: the decision to leave Brazil to play overseas. She admitted that she always planned to play abroad, but knowing whether she was truly ready was not easy. After the Rio 2026 Olympic Games, while still earning her place with the national team, she understood that she had to be mentally prepared not only as a player but also as a person. To take the next step, she needed to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices. Ahead of the 2026-2026 season, Gabi signed with Turkish giant VakifBank, one of the strongest teams in the world. She was expected to be one of the team's main stars. The environment there, she said, changed her understanding of volleyball completely. From the start, she realized she had entered another level of the sport. It was challenging and demanding, but head coach Giovanni Guidetti played a key role in her development. One of the first things he told her was that he wanted to prepare her to become team captain. Gabi was shocked because she had never seen herself in that role. Wearing Brazil's jersey is another emotional subject for Gabi. She recalled her first call-up to Brazil's youth national team in 2026 at Saquarema, where she trained alongside the generation that won gold at the Beijing Olympic Games. She said playing for the national team had been a childhood dream. Watching great athletes, dreaming of winning a medal and hearing the national anthem pushed her forward. Being close to that golden generation was a strong sign that she should continue her volleyball career. Gabi's story shows that success on the international stage requires more than talent. It demands mental strength, the courage to face uncertainty and the willingness to leave home behind. Her journey from a young Brazilian girl to a VakifBank star is not only a story about skill, but also about choosing a difficult path in order to grow.