Olympic medalist at 40, Carol Gattaz proves that age is not a barrier

At 40, Carol Gattaz proved that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. After suffering with two cuts on the eve of the Olympic Games, she even gave up on winning the much-desired medal. In an Olympic cycle unlike any other, the center was called up for the Tokyo Olympics and showed the world its potential. Next, meet Carol Gattaz and her journey in women’s sport!

The late and promising start in the sport

The talent for the sport came from an early age in Caroline de Oliveira Saad Gattaz’s life. Born in São José do Rio Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, she started playing futsal in childhood and in her adolescence she was already top scorer on the school team and the Rio Preto Automóvel Clube. Her tall stature led her to play handball, football, table tennis and track and field until she finally found herself volleyball.

At the same club, Carol started to stand out in the sport and received a scholarship to represent Colégio Santo André. His first professional team was São Caetano, at age 17. In 2000, she transferred to Rexona, in Rio de Janeiro, returning to the ABC team the following year. She had stints at Osasco, Monte Schiavo Jesi from Italy until arriving at Minas Tênis Clube in 2014. At Minas, Gattaz won the Minas Gerais three championship, four South American championship and 3 Women’s Superligas.

Olympic Cycles

At 18 years old, Carol was a promising midfielder who had just arrived in the main team, however, she was not considered by coach José Roberto Guimarães for the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2008, even after having participated in the entire Olympic cycle and in the main competitions, ended up being cut from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In London 2012, she suffered from plantar fasciitis and was left out of the main list. Gattaz announced his retirement for the Rio-2016 games. She was a commentator for SporTV channels during the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The call to represent Brazil in the biggest competition in the world came only in 2021 after the postponement of the Tokyo-2020 Olympic Games.

The importance of never giving up on your dreams

Giving up quitting is what Carol Gattaz did. Even after 2 Olympic cuts, alongside Camila Brait – libero position, Carol Gattaz got stronger and found her best form. She realized that she was better at 40 than she was at 30. She sought out professionals who could leverage her body, her career, and her mindset. She had the support of her club, Minas Tênis Clube, and saw her potential, the one she thought she didn’t have after seeing her dream of representing her country in the Olympic Games being destroyed.

Gattaz proved to herself and to many people that there is no age to fulfill dreams. Even in her career as a high-level athlete, where it’s common to see people retire after 30, she discovered her best version. She brought home the much-desired medal, which even though it was silver, was worth all the years of effort. She doesn’t think about retirement, but about continuing to play until her body says enough. Until then, she will still give a lot of joy to her fans and fans.

10 curiosities to praise the center even more

With more than 20 years of career, Carol Gattaz shows that determination is the key to increasingly prove herself as one of the best central defenders in Brazilian volleyball. Find out more about the Minas Tênis Clube player:

1. Fifth best player in the world in 2021

The International Volleyball Federation elected the 12 best athletes of the year 2021 and Carol Gattaz was elected fifth on the list, ahead of players like Gabi Guimarães, her teammate and ex-Minas. The FIVB wrote that the player’s 40th birthday was triumphant as she returned to the national team after eight years, claiming runners-up in the Nations League and the Olympics.

2. Captain of Mines

Part of the first team since the 2014/2015 season, Gattaz’s contract was renewed for the 2022/2023 season and she remains captain of the current Superliga winner. “It is an honor to lead a team like Gerdau Minas and, at the same time, a great responsibility. I am very happy to continue at the Club, which is my second home”, said Gattaz in an ad.

3. Relationship with Rosamaria

In addition to a great relationship on the court, Carol has a very special friendship with the opposite Rosamaria. They share moments together and had the opportunity to live the dream of competing in the Olympics together. The two shared a room and Carol always posted videos using her best sung in Rosa. They even joke that they share guard with Julia Kudiess, center of Minas and Seleção, who physically looks like Rosamaria and shares the position with Carol, and the two are 22 years apart!

4. Best Center of the League of Nations

Alongside Turkey’s Eda Erdem, Gattaz was elected the best center of the League of Nations in 2021. Brazil took second place after losing the final to the United States. Tandara was elected the best opposite and Gabi Guimarães shared the award for best pointer with American Michelle Bartsch-Hackley.

5. Singer in her spare time

Off the court, Gattaz enjoys his time singing alongside friends and singer Elaine Cristina. After one of the training sessions at the Tokyo games, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation released a video of her singing while the pointer Ana Cristina played the piano.

6. Loves to travel

Central vacations are always marked by trips through Brazil and around the world. After enjoying some time with her family in the countryside of São Paulo, Carol recharges her energies in paradisiacal places and posting incredible photos on her social networks.

7. It is also known as the ‘boat’s vein’

A nickname that began with his fans in allusion to his posts on a speedboat at his family’s farm or on trips to Minas Gerais. The nickname went viral and even other older players like Sheilla and Fernanda Garay gained nicknames like “Veia da BMW” and “Veia do Vinho”.

8. Do yoga

It’s not just volleyball that consumes all the player’s time. In addition to technical and physical training, Gattaz also does yoga to stimulate the body and become more and more flexible. The combination helps his performance on the court and promotes the longevity of his career as an athlete.

9. Not afraid to take a stand

Carol Gattaz was never afraid to come out as bisexual. After a recent controversy involving a player from the male squad of Minas, Carol posted a video repudiating the player’s homophobic attitudes, and declared: “I am very sad to have to come here and explain the obvious. Homophobia is a crime. Racism is a crime. Xenophobia is a crime. And we as a society can no longer naturalize behaviors like this. It is very important that we position ourselves in a combative way. It would be very simple for me, a cis, bisexual, independent, middle-class, successful woman, to come here and hide and not do anything about it.”

10. Has rural origins

Not only volleyball lives the Brazilian center. Daughter and granddaughter of farmers, Carol spends her time on the family farm and helps her father with his farming business. Its origins come from rural sugarcane producers in São Paulo. She has her own cattle farm in Ilha Solteira (SP) and her father takes care of it.

You just read about the oldest female athlete in the Brazilian delegation at the Tokyo Olympics, how about reading now about the youngest athlete, skater Rayssa Leal?