Giba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Giba
Giba at the 2011 World League Final
Personal information
Full name	Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho
Born	(1976-12-23) 23 December 1976 (age 48) Londrina, PR, Brazil
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	91 kg (201 lb)
Spike	325 cm (128 in)
Block	312 cm (123 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Outside hitter
Current club	Retired
Career
Years Teams 1996–1997 Chapecó São Caetano 1997–1998 Olympikus São Caetano 1998–1999 Report Nipomed 1999–2001 Minas Tênis Clube 2001–2003 Ferrara 2003–2007 Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo 2007–2009 Iskra Odintsovo 2009–2012 Pinheiros 2012–2013 Personal Bolívar 2013 Funvic Taubaté 2013–2014 Al-Nasr Dubai 2018–2019 IBB Polonia London
National team
1995–2012  Brazil
Honours Men's Volleyball Representing  Brazil Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 2 0 World Championship 3 0 0 World Grand Champions Cup 3 0 0 World Cup 2 0 2 World League 8 2 2 South American Championship 9 0 0 Pan American Games 1 1 1 America's Cup 3 4 0 Total 30 9 5 Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Silver 2008 Beijing Silver 2012 London World Championship Gold 2002 Argentina Gold 2006 Japan Gold 2010 Italy World Cup Gold 2003 Japan Gold 2007 Japan Bronze 2011 Japan World Grand Champions Cup Gold 1997 Japan Gold 2005 Japan Gold 2009 Japan World League Gold 2001 Katowice Gold 2003 Madrid Gold 2004 Rome Gold 2005 Belgrade Gold 2006 Moscow Gold 2007 Katowice Gold 2009 Belgrade Gold 2010 Córdoba Silver 2002 Belo Horizonte Silver 2011 Gdańsk Bronze 1999 Mar del Plata Pan American Games Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Silver 1999 Winnipeg Bronze 2003 Santo Domingo South American Championship Gold 1995 Brazil Gold 1997 Venezuela Gold 1999 Argentina Gold 2001 Colombia Gold 2003 Brazil Gold 2005 Brazil Gold 2007 Chile Gold 2009 Colombia
Last updated: 24 August 2016

Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, known as Giba, is a famous Brazilian former professional volleyball player. He was an outside hitter, which is a key attacking position in volleyball. For many years in the 2000s, Giba was considered one of the best volleyball players in the world.

Giba played for clubs in several countries, including Brazil, Italy, Russia, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates. He is most famous for his amazing success with the Brazilian national team. With them, he won many titles, including a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also won three World Championships.

Giba retired from professional volleyball in 2014 when he was 37 years old. In 2018, he was honored by being added to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Giba's Club Career

Giba started his volleyball journey in Brazil, playing for several clubs like Curitibano and Minas. He then moved to Italy to play in their top league. After two years with Yahoo! Ferrara, he joined Noicom BreBanca Cuneo in 2003.

In 2006, Giba helped his team win the Italian Cup. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that competition. Later, he played in Russia for Iskra Odintsovo.

After two years in Russia, Giba returned to Brazil in 2009. He played for Pinheiros and helped them win a bronze medal in the Brazilian Superliga. Towards the end of his career, he also played in Argentina and briefly in the United Arab Emirates.

Giba's International Career

Giba's international career with the Brazilian National Team was truly remarkable. He joined the team when he was just 18 years old.

Early Years: 1995–2001

Giba debuted for Brazil in 1995 and immediately won his first big title, the South American Championship. This win helped Brazil qualify for the World Grand Champions Cup in 1997, which they also won.

Brazil faced some tough losses in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They lost in the semifinals of the 1998 World Championship and were upset in the quarterfinals of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, in 2001, Giba won his first World League title, with Brazil beating Italy in the final.

The Golden Era: 2002–2007

The years from 2002 to 2007 are known as the "Golden Era" for Brazilian volleyball. Giba was a key leader of this amazing team, coached by Bernardo Rezende. The team included other great players like Dante and Sérgio.

After losing the 2002 World League final, the team went on an incredible winning streak. They won 11 major international competitions in a row! This included five World League titles, two World Championships, two World Cups, the World Grand Champions Cup, and an Olympic gold medal.

At the 2002 World Championship in Argentina, Brazil won their first-ever World Championship title. They beat Italy and Russia in thrilling matches. In 2003, Giba led Brazil to win the first of five straight World League titles.

At the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Giba played his best. He helped Brazil win their second Olympic gold medal in volleyball history. He was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Giba continued his fantastic performance in the following seasons. He won MVP awards for the 2006 World League, the 2006 World Championship, and the 2007 World Cup. Many people at this time thought he was the best volleyball player in the world. In 2006, he was named the best Brazilian athlete of the year.

Later Years: 2008–2012

Giba in a semifinal match of the World League 2011

By 2008, Giba was 32 years old, and Brazil started to face tougher competition. They lost in the semifinals of the World League at home in Rio de Janeiro. Later that year, Brazil reached the final of the Beijing Olympics, but they lost to the United States and took home the silver medal.

The next year, Giba was part of a rebuilt team that won the World League title again. In 2010, Giba's role changed, with younger players like Murilo often starting. However, Giba remained the team's captain and a very important player. He won his eighth World League title and his third World Championship in Italy.

In 2011, Giba returned to the starting lineup due to an injury to Dante. Brazil almost won another World League title but lost a close final to Russia. At the 2012 London Olympics, Giba was mostly a reserve captain. Brazil reached the gold medal match again. They were leading against Russia, but Russia made a comeback, and Brazil ended up with another silver medal. After these Olympics, Giba retired from the Brazilian national team.

Giba's Playing Style

Even though Giba was not very tall for a volleyball player, he made up for it with his amazing physical skills and jumping ability. During his career, he was known as one of the best wing spikers in the world.

Giba was admired not just for his incredible plays, but also for his passion and energy. He was loved by volleyball fans everywhere. He was chosen as the national team captain because of his strong leadership skills. His energetic personality helped motivate the entire Brazilian team to play their best. Brazil was almost unbeatable in the 2000s, and Giba was a huge reason for their success.

Giba's Personal Life

Giba was born in Londrina, Brazil, but grew up in Curitiba. He has been involved in helping children who are fighting leukemia, a disease he was diagnosed with when he was six months old.

Giba was married to Cristina Pîrv, a former Romanian-Brazilian international volleyball player. They have two children, a daughter named Nicoll and a son named Patrick. Giba is fluent in three languages: Portuguese, English, and Italian.

Commercial Activities

Giba has worked with several well-known brands in commercial campaigns. These include Nissan, Technos watches, and Olympikus.

Social Activities

Giba is very active in social causes. He supports orphans and children who have cancer. He also takes part in campaigns against prostate cancer. Giba and his ex-wife Cristina Pirv supported a campaign against breast cancer. He has also celebrated Olympic Day with 600 children from social projects in Rio de Janeiro. Giba is the president of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission, which means he represents volleyball players around the world. He is also involved in other social responsibility projects.

Media Appearances

The Brazilian Olympic Committee made a documentary about Giba called Heróis Olímpicos (Olympic Heroes). His autobiography, titled Giba Neles!, has been translated into Polish and Italian.

Giba's Management Role

In 2016, Giba was chosen to be the President of the FIVB Athletes Commission. This commission is made up of 10 athletes from nine different countries. They represent both volleyball and beach volleyball players.

Giba's Sporting Achievements

Club Achievements

• 2008/2009 CEV Champions League – with Iskra Odintsovo

National Championships

• 1999/2000 Brazilian Championship, with Minas Tênis Clube
• 2000/2001 Brazilian Championship, with Minas Tênis Clube
• 2005/2006 Italian Cup, with Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
• 2007/2008 Russian Championship, with Iskra Odintsovo
• 2008/2009 Russian Championship, with Iskra Odintsovo
• 2009/2010 Brazilian Championship, with Pinheiros

National Team Achievements

• 1993 FIVB U19 World Championship
• 1995 FIVB U21 World Championship
• 1995 South American Championship
• 1997 South American Championship
• 1997 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
• 1998 America's Cup
• 1999 South American Championship
• 1999 America's Cup
• 2001 FIVB World League
• 2001 South American Championship
• 2001 America's Cup
• 2002 FIVB World League
• 2002 FIVB World Championship
• 2003 FIVB World League
• 2003 South American Championship
• 2003 FIVB World Cup
• 2004 FIVB World League
• 2004 Olympic Games
• 2005 FIVB World League
• 2005 South American Championship
• 2005 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
• 2006 FIVB World League
• 2006 FIVB World Championship
• 2007 FIVB World League
• 2007 Pan American Games
• 2007 South American Championship
• 2007 FIVB World Cup
• 2008 Olympic Games
• 2009 FIVB World League
• 2009 South American Championship
• 2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
• 2010 FIVB World League
• 2010 FIVB World Championship
• 2011 FIVB World League
• 2011 FIVB World Cup
• 2012 Olympic Games

Individual Awards

Giba in 2009

• 1993 FIVB U19 World Championship – Most Valuable Player
• 1995 FIVB U21 World Championship – Most Valuable Player
• 2004 Olympic Games – Most Valuable Player
• 2006 FIVB World League – Most Valuable Player
• 2006 FIVB World Championship – Most Valuable Player
• 2006 Prêmio Brasil Olímpico – Best athlete of the Year
• 2007 Pan American Games – Most Valuable Player
• 2007 South American Championship – Most Valuable Player
• 2007 FIVB World Cup – Most Valuable Player
• 2008 FIVB World League – Best Server
• 2009 South American Championship – Best Spiker
• 2010 Famous Magazine – Best Volleyball Player of the last Decade
• 2011 State of Parana – Medal for promotion of Sports
• 2011 Sky Sports – The most famous Volleyball player in the World
• 2015 Fox Sports – Best men's Volleyball player of all Time
• 2016 RCI Brasil – Best Sports Active
• 2018 Inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Giba (voleibolista) para niños