Gabi recalls VakifBank leap: 'I never thought I could be captain'

Sitting by a pool on a sunny day, Bruno Rezende and Gabriela Guimarães, two names associated with Brazilian volleyball, had a rare conversation about playing abroad. For Gabi, this story is not about an expensive contract. It is about a young woman who had to wrestle with her own fear before daring to cross national borders. Gabi said she began thinking about moving overseas after the Rio 2026 Olympics. At that time, she was still earning her spot on the national team. “I had a plan of playing overseas, but it wasn’t easy to figure out if I was ready for it or not,” she recalled. She had dealt with injuries and wondered whether she could play in the world’s best leagues. What she realized was that, to take the next step, she needed to leave her comfort zone. That was a difficult decision because she had to sacrifice the comfort of being a star in her domestic league and enter a completely unfamiliar environment. Ahead of the 2026-2026 season, Gabi signed with VakifBank Istanbul. It is one of the strongest teams on the planet, and expectations were huge. As soon as she arrived in Istanbul, Gabi was overwhelmed because she understood the level there was completely different. “The scenario I found when I got there was mind-changing,” she said. Her early days in Turkey were demanding, physically and mentally. Gabi had to adapt to a dense schedule, a new language, and local media. Through it all, her relationship with head coach Giovanni Guidetti became decisive. Guidetti placed great trust in Gabi from the beginning. During their first talk, he told her he wanted to prepare her to become team captain. Gabi was shocked. “I have never seen myself in that position,” she admitted. Before that, she had always seen herself as a hard-working athlete who did her job on court, rather than a leader. But that statement opened a new direction. She gradually understood that a leader does not necessarily have to be the loudest person; a leader connects teammates through sincerity and responsibility. The national team jersey is central to Gabi’s story. She said representing Brazil was a childhood dream. She grew up loving sports and always hoped to hear the national anthem after winning a medal. In 2026, she was first called up to Brazil’s youth national team. She was in Saquarema with the golden generation that had just won Olympic gold in Beijing. That moment was a clear sign that she should keep pursuing volleyball because she had never felt so close to her dream. Gabi’s story is not unique. Many Brazilian athletes face the same choice: stay in a safe domestic league or move to a tougher environment. European women’s volleyball, especially in Turkey and Italy, is attracting a lot of talent. But few are brave enough to make the decision Gabi made. The difference between a domestic star and a global star often lies in how they deal with pressure when they no longer have home fans protecting them. For Vietnamese volleyball, Gabi’s story raises a meaningful question. Many domestic teams still see keeping players with big contracts as the top priority. But have we created an environment that helps young athletes get ready for the wider world? Gabi’s success at VakifBank shows that investing in adaptability, psychology, and leadership matters more than how much money a club spends to keep someone. Top European leagues are not merely destinations for glory; they are places where players grow as people. A blind spot in the professional world is that managers often evaluate players by scoring stats, not by quiet leadership. Gabi was not bought to be the highest scorer. She was expected to be a tactical piece and the team’s rhythm keeper. That is why Guidetti spoke to her about the captaincy from the beginning. He wanted someone who could transmit his ideas on court, not just a good hitter. Years later, that decision turned Gabi into one of the most complete outside hitters in the world. Bruno Rezende, with years of experience in Europe, probably sees himself in Gabi’s journey. Yet there is a difference: Gabi did not choose a mid-level team to start. She chose a top team and accepted a high risk of failure. That approach shows a spirit that refuses to settle. She understands the road to glory is not paved with roses, and she is willing to pay the price through hard work. That is also what young Brazilian players are learning from her. The later part of the conversation turned to the influence of the golden generation of 2026. According to Gabi, training with the Olympic champions gave her a concrete model. She not only saw them on television but also witnessed how they trained every day. Those players gave her the belief that dreams can come true. When one generation opens the road, following generations gain more courage to walk forward. This is a virtuous circle that developing volleyball nations like Vietnam need to build. Gabi’s story does not end when she wins a trophy. It continues when she returns to the national team and sees younger players following the path she once took. She understands that leaving Brazil changed not only her life but also created an example for many young athletes. When they see a girl who once dealt with injuries and self-doubt rise to become the leader of a big club, they will believe they can do it too. That is more valuable than any trophy. Gabi once said she never thought she could be captain. But life often brings people to places they never planned. By the pool, in front of Bruno, Gabi is a much more mature version of the young woman who stood at the doorstep of leaving Brazil in 2026. She still has questions about the future, but at least she has answered the most important question an athlete can face: whether she is brave enough to leave her comfort zone. For Gabi, the answer is clear.