Gabi Guimarães: “I needed to leave my comfort zone to take the next step in my career”

In a quiet corner by a pristine pool, Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimarães had an open conversation about the challenging journey they faced when deciding to leave Brazil to play abroad. Gabi said she always had a plan to play overseas, but it was not easy to know if she was ready. “I had experienced some injuries and had questions if I had what it took to play in the world’s best leagues,” she said. The Rio 2026 Olympics became a turning point as she was still earning her place with the national team and realized she needed to be mentally ready, not only as a player but also as a person. Her first step abroad was joining VakifBank, one of the strongest clubs in the world, ahead of the 2026-2026 season. She admitted the new environment changed her perspective on volleyball: “From the start, I could see I was getting into a whole other level.” Head coach Giovanni Guidetti was very important to her. He said he wanted to prepare her to become team captain, which shocked her because she had never seen herself in that position. Wearing Brazil’s jersey is a childhood dream for Gabi. In 2026, when she was first called up to the Brazilian youth national team and stayed at Saquarema alongside the generation that had just won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics, she understood she was getting closer to that dream. “That was a strong sign that I should continue,” she said. Gabi’s story is not just about a contract or a transfer. It reflects the hardship many Brazilian players must face when they choose to step out of their comfort zone to develop at the highest level. For Gabi, leaving Brazil was the road that forced her to grow, just as she said: “Maybe at that point I needed to leave my comfort zone and make some sacrifices to take the next step in my career.”