Giberto Amaury de Godoy Filho, popularly known as Giba (born 23 December 1976) is a former Brazilian professional volleyball player. He played as an outside spiker who was considered as one of the best volleyball players in the world, especially during the 2000s. He played for Brazil from 1996 to 2012 and is remembered for all the decorations he helped win for his country.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Giba won the World Cup in 2003, World League eight times (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010). He played for the Brazilian junior team and won the South American Championship in 1994 and came second at the FIVB World Championship in 1993.
His team was the champion of the Superliga in 1999-2000 and 2001-2001 and World Champion three times in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He was elected MVP in 2006.
Giba helped win the Pan-American Games where he was captain of the Brazilian team. The same year, he won the gold medal for the South American Championship and was the named the best player of the entire championship. Brazil won the 2007 World Cup where he was named the MVP as well.
He was a silver medalist during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was elected the server of the World League.
In 2009, he helped win the World League, World Grand Champions Cup and the South American Championship for Brazil.
Why Was He So Good?
Giba isn’t very tall for a volleyball player but he replaced the height with his rapidity and shocking physical skills. He is perhaps one the best wing spikers (outside hitters) in the world. Giba is not only a brilliant volleyball player but he also had desire, appeal and drive that made him loved by all volleyball fans. He always motivated the whole Brazilian team to play its best. Brazil has been nearly unbeatable in the 2000s and that was all thanks to Giba.
What You May Not Know
- He married former Romanian-Brazilian international volleyball player, Cristina Pirv since 2003 but in 2012, Cristina filed for divorce.
- Giba retired at the age of 37 in 2014.
- His lifetime motto is “to learn as long as I live”.
- He played for eleven teams from 1996 until 2014 including Minas Belo Horizonte, Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo, Pinheiros and Al-Nasr Dubai.
Was he a legend?
Do you agree with Giba being a legend of volleyball?
How would you rate their greatness? (from good to 'the best')