Outside hitter Gabi: 'Leaving your comfort zone' is key to conquering the world

Sitting by a pristine pool, Gabi and Bruno recalled the difficult moments they faced when deciding to leave Brazil to play overseas. Gabi shared that she had planned to play abroad, but it wasn't easy to determine if she was ready. After the Rio 2026 Olympics, she understood she needed to be mentally ready as both a player and a person, ready to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices. Her first step was signing with Turkish giants VakifBank for the 2026-2026 season. The level there was completely different, and she initially struggled. But she built a great relationship with coach Giovanni Guidetti, who surprised her by saying he wanted to prepare her to be the team captain. She had never seen herself in that role. Gabi also reflected on her childhood dream of playing for Brazil's national team. Her first call-up to the youth national team in 2026, surrounded by the generation that won Olympic gold in Beijing, convinced her to keep pursuing her dream. This story offers a lesson for Vietnamese sports: mental readiness is just as important as technical skill. Young Vietnamese athletes should learn to leave their comfort zones and embrace challenges abroad. As I always say, 'The stadium lights are lit to see the game, but I light them to see the hidden corners.' The real battle is often with oneself.