Gabi and Bruno: Leaving the Comfort Zone – A Journey to the Top in Europe

In a conversation by the pool, two Brazilian volleyball stars, Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimarães, recalled the most difficult decision of their careers: leaving Brazil to play abroad. For both, the moment of leaving family, friends and the familiar volleyball environment has always been a major turning point, requiring the courage to overcome self-doubt. Gabi, now one of the world's leading hitters, shared that she always had a plan to play overseas, but figuring out whether she was ready was never easy. “I had experienced some injuries and had questions if I had what it took to play in the world's best leagues,” she said. This thought began after the Rio 2026 Olympics, when she was still earning her space with the national team. Gabi realized that she needed to be mentally ready not only as a player, but as a person. It was time to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices to take the next step. In 2026, Gabi decided to sign with VakifBank, one of the strongest clubs on the planet, for the 2026-2026 season. That was an ambitious move as she joined a team with massive ambitions as one of their main stars. Recalling her early days, she admitted: “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. It was really challenging and demanding at the start.” Her relationship with coach Giovanni Guidetti was crucial: “One of the first things he told me was that he wanted to prepare me to be the team captain. I was shocked because I have never seen myself in that position.” The conversation turned to wearing the Brazilian jersey, which naturally led Gabi to revisit 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. “I always loved watching and playing sports and dreamed about representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem.” Before volleyball, Gabi tried many sports. But when she 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, she felt it was a strong sign to continue. “I had never been so close to my dream before,” she shared. On the other side of the conversation, Bruno Rezende listened empathetically. Bruno himself is a legendary setter who spent many years playing in Europe for top clubs. Through Gabi's reflections, the story of leaving the homeland, adapting to a new culture and proving oneself in the most competitive environment in the world came alive. Regardless of role, overcoming fear and courageously moving to new horizons is a never-ending lesson, not only for athletes but for anyone aspiring to achieve their dreams. This article is a summary of a recent conversation between two Brazilian volleyball stars, published on Volleyball World's media channel.