Dreams Abroad: Bruno and Gabi Share Their Journey of Leaving Brazil to Conquer the Top

Sitting by a pristine pool, Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimaraes, two legends of Brazilian volleyball, had an open conversation about the harsh challenges they faced when making the difficult decision to leave Brazil to play overseas so they could continue moving forward in their careers. Gabi, one of the world's best outside hitters, shared that her move abroad did not come easily. She had to weigh many factors: "I had a plan of playing overseas, but it wasn't easy to figure out if I was ready for it or not. I had experienced some injuries and had questions if I had what it took to play in the world's best leagues. I started thinking about it after the Rio 2026 Olympics, when I was still earning my space with the national team, and I understood that I needed to be mentally ready not only as a player, but as a person, and that maybe at that point I'd need to leave my comfort zone and make some sacrifices to take the next step in my career." Gabi's first step overseas was a big one, as she decided to sign with Turkish giants VakifBank, one of the strongest teams on the planet, ahead of the 2026-2026 season and joined a team with massive ambitions as one of their main stars. "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," the outside hitter reflected. "It was really challenging and demanding at the start. I built a great relationship with Guidetti (Giovanni, head coach), and he was incredibly important for me. One of the first things he told me was that he wanted to prepare me to be the team captain, and I was shocked because I have never seen myself in that position." Wearing Brazil's jersey was naturally another topic of the conversation, and the theme led Gabi to revisit her first impressions when called up to play for Brazil's youth national teams and the influence the generation that won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics had on her career. "To play for the national team is really a childhood dream and it brings me back to my youth because I always loved watching and playing sports and dreamed about representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem," she said. "I played many sports before volleyball, but when I 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, that was a strong sign that I should continue because I had never been so close to my dream before." Bruno Rezende, another great Brazilian volleyball setter, also shared his stories. He emphasized that leaving Brazil was not only about professionalism, but also emotional growth. Bruno spent many years playing in top European leagues, but he always carried the love for his homeland. The conversation by the pool is not just a recollection of the past, but also evidence of the sacrifice and determination of top athletes. They had to overcome fear, injuries, pressure, and even homesickness. But these challenges have shaped their toughness on the international stage. For Gabi, moving out of her comfort zone helped her develop a new mindset. She not only became a more complete player, but also learned leadership skills from coaches like Guidetti. And for Bruno, the challenges of playing abroad helped him broaden his horizons and become one of the greatest setters in volleyball history. Their story is an inspiration for many young athletes, not only in Brazil but around the world. Daring to leave home, facing difficulties, and chasing dreams is a lesson of courage and perseverance. Bruno and Gabi have proven that, to reach the top, we sometimes need to step out of our familiar boundaries.