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Gustavo the giant of the Brazilian junior side
 May
2, 2005 – He
is not as well known as Giba or Nalbert but there is no
another Brazilian Volleyball player as tall as 19-year-old
Gustavo Guazelli Bonatto.
At 2.11m, Gustavo is set to be one of the stars at the 2005
Junior Men’s U21 World Championships, which will be held in
Vizakhapatnam, India from August 6-14, 2005.
The Brazilian junior player, who trains at the Brazilian
Volleyball Development Centre in Rio de Janeiro, is one of
three in the squad who top a staggering 2.06m – the others
being 19-year-old Lucas Saaltkamp at 2.06m and 18-year-old
Kaio Fabio Alves Rocha at 2.08m.
It is no surprise Gustavo has excelled in the height stakes
since his father is “short” at 1.94m, while his uncle,
brother of his mother, measures 2.00m.
“I began to stretch even when I was 15-years-old and that
was when I was already 1.85m tall and wore 48” shoes,”
Gustavo said. “It’s always difficult finding clothes and
shoes. I have to go to other cities.”
Pic: 19-year-old Gustavo Guazelli Bonatto at 2.11m tall
Despite his height, Gustavo actually started playing another
sport. “I never thought of playing Volleyball,” he said. “I
liked soccer, which I played at primary school. I didn’t
start Volleyball until I was 14-years-old. While I was at
school I was called for a trial at UCS/COLUMBUS (a Brazilian
club). I passed so I stayed.”
But for Gustavo, his height is not a passport to success and
he must still work hard, particularly with such an important
event coming up in August. “In Volleyball, while height is
good, it doesn’t guarantee anything. A person with height
but who doesn’t know how to play is ineffective. I find that
I have a good level in blocking and I am going to fight to
stay in this squad and try and dispute the World
Championships in the India.”
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