This superstar’s full name is Gilberto Amaury de Godoy Filho, but he is much better known as Giba.

Giba is the best known player in one of the greatest volleyball teams ever, Brazilian men’s volleyball team from this decade. Giba may be the best player in Brazilian superb volleyball team and is a superstar among volleyball fans all over the world.

Giba is not only an excellent professional volleyball player, but also has passion, energy and charisma which make him lovable by the volleyball fans – and the power to inspire the whole Brazilian team to play its best.

The high-strung Giba, an outside hitter, was the team’s leading scorer at the 2007 World Cup, with 127 points (14th overall). An omnipresent figure on the court with his his sweat-soaked hair plastered to his head, he plays with great emotion and flair, and for a big man, has exceptionally quick feet. The MVP of his first international tournament — the 1993 World Youth championships — Giba played in his first World League tournament in 1997, and was a member of the Brazilian team that placed fourth at the 1998 Worlds.

He played his first Olympic Games in Athens 2004. Athens was a special defining moment in Giba’s life; Brazil won the Olympic Gold Medal and during the Olympics Giba’s first daughter, Nicole was born.

Giba has been crowned the Most Valuable Player in 2004 Olympic Games, 2006 World League and 2006 World Championships.

For the 2007-2008 season Giba signed a 3-year contract to play professional volleyball in Russia after playing several club volleyball seasons in Brazil and Italy. He represents Iskra Odintsovo, a club team in small Odintsovo town near Moscow.

At age 11, Giba endured a severe injury to his left arm that required 150 stitches. He recovered and started playing volleyball the next year. He also played soccer and basketball when he was younger, but always liked volleyball best. Giba, who’s married to his wife, Pirv, thinks he will retire after Beijing.