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Giovane GavioBorn: September 7, 1970, Juiz de Fora, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Enshrined: 2021 Country: Brazil Category: Male Indoor Player |
BIOGRAPHY
Brazil’s volleyball success of the 1980’s, dubbed the “Silver Generation,” inspired countless athletes in the country to try volleyball. Giovane Gávio was one. He witnessed the successes of Brazil’s volleyball teams on television and immediately became drawn to the game. At home, his example was his older sister, Gisele, who used to split her time between her studies and the volleyball courts, quite often in Giovane’s company.
His genuine interest in volleyball made Giovane fall in love with the sport. He decided to quit judo to focus on volleyball – starting his career at 13. He had no idea how far volleyball would take him.
He moved to Sao Paulo when he was 16 to play for Banespa and helped lead Brazil’s Youth National Team to a South American Championship two years later in 1988. It wasn’t long after he was tabbed to join the Men’s National Team.
A member of Brazil’s National Team from 1989 to 2004, Giovane played in 400 official matches and won an astounding 29 medals at major competitions including the Olympic Games, the FIVB World League, World Cup, World Championship, World Grand Champions Cup, Pan American Games, and South American Championship picking up numerous Most Valuable Player, Best Spiker, and Best Blocker awards along the way.
A four-time Olympian, Giovane made his debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games where he helped Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal. The team was unable to find the same success at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games finishing 5th overall.
Shortly after the 1996 Games, Giovane transitioned to beach volleyball from 1997-2000. He and partner Tande Ramos won Brazil’s National Beach Volleyball Championship in 1998 with their best international finish being 3rd at the 1999 FIVB World Tour stop in Spain.
Giovane would soon find his way back indoors, though, to join his team for the 2000 Sydney Games. It wasn’t until the 2004 Athens Olympics he and Brazil would find themselves back on top of the podium bringing home the gold medal and putting the capstone on an incredible playing career.
In 2005, he announced his retirement as a volleyball player and soon found success as a coach for Brazil’s U23 and U21 teams and professionally for SESC RJ in the Superliga. He is the only Brazilian player to win the Superliga both as a player and coach.
For taking Brazilian Men’s Volleyball to the highest place on the podium and building one of the most victorious careers in volleyball, we are excited to induct Giovane Gávio to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as an indoor player.
His genuine interest in volleyball made Giovane fall in love with the sport. He decided to quit judo to focus on volleyball – starting his career at 13. He had no idea how far volleyball would take him.
He moved to Sao Paulo when he was 16 to play for Banespa and helped lead Brazil’s Youth National Team to a South American Championship two years later in 1988. It wasn’t long after he was tabbed to join the Men’s National Team.
A member of Brazil’s National Team from 1989 to 2004, Giovane played in 400 official matches and won an astounding 29 medals at major competitions including the Olympic Games, the FIVB World League, World Cup, World Championship, World Grand Champions Cup, Pan American Games, and South American Championship picking up numerous Most Valuable Player, Best Spiker, and Best Blocker awards along the way.
A four-time Olympian, Giovane made his debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games where he helped Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal. The team was unable to find the same success at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games finishing 5th overall.
Shortly after the 1996 Games, Giovane transitioned to beach volleyball from 1997-2000. He and partner Tande Ramos won Brazil’s National Beach Volleyball Championship in 1998 with their best international finish being 3rd at the 1999 FIVB World Tour stop in Spain.
Giovane would soon find his way back indoors, though, to join his team for the 2000 Sydney Games. It wasn’t until the 2004 Athens Olympics he and Brazil would find themselves back on top of the podium bringing home the gold medal and putting the capstone on an incredible playing career.
In 2005, he announced his retirement as a volleyball player and soon found success as a coach for Brazil’s U23 and U21 teams and professionally for SESC RJ in the Superliga. He is the only Brazilian player to win the Superliga both as a player and coach.
For taking Brazilian Men’s Volleyball to the highest place on the podium and building one of the most victorious careers in volleyball, we are excited to induct Giovane Gávio to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as an indoor player.
