Out of the comfort zone, into the dream: Gabi Guimaraes opens up on VakifBank move and Brazil pride

Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimaraes sat by a pool, away from the noise of competition, and looked back on one of the hardest decisions an athlete can make: leaving Brazil to play abroad. For Gabi, the story did not start with a contract or a glamorous offer. It started with doubt. She admitted she had a plan to play overseas, but was not sure she was ready. She had dealt with injuries and questioned whether she belonged in the world’s best leagues. After the Rio 2026 Olympics, while still earning her place with the national team, she realized she needed to be mentally ready as a player and as a person. She understood she had to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices to take the next step in her career. Her first move abroad was a bold one. Before the 2026-2026 season, she signed with VakifBank, one of the strongest teams in the world. She arrived in Turkey as one of their main stars, which meant there was no room for a slow adjustment period. Gabi recalled that the intensity she found at VakifBank changed her mindset from the very beginning. It showed her another level of volleyball. The early period was difficult and demanding, but she built a strong relationship with head coach Giovanni Guidetti. One of the first things he told her was that he wanted to prepare her to become team captain. She was shocked because she had never seen herself in that role. The national team was another important part of the conversation. Gabi said playing for Brazil was a childhood dream. She loved sports and always dreamed of representing her country, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem. She played many sports before choosing volleyball. In 2026, when she was first called up to Brazil’s youth national team and trained at Saquarema alongside the generation that won gold at the Beijing Olympics, she saw it as a strong sign that she should keep going. Gabi’s journey is not only about talent or tactics. It is about mental readiness and the courage to step into unknown territory. VakifBank gave her a demanding environment, but Guidetti gave her something more personal: belief in her leadership potential. The conversation between Bruno and Gabi shows that even world-class players need to confront fear and self-doubt. The decision to leave home is never simple. But sometimes, the bravest thing an athlete can do is choose growth over comfort. Gabi’s story reminds us that great careers are built quietly, one difficult decision at a time. She did not become a leader because someone handed her the captaincy. She became a leader because she was willing to leave everything familiar behind and trust the process.