If today's volleyball is passionate samba, Brazilian star spiker Gilberto Godoy Filho is the leading dancer.

Four years ago, a high-spirit Brazil won over European champions Italy, 25-15, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22, to complete a sweep of world championship, world league and Olympics.

Giba contributed 20 points for his team at the wonderful finale.

The Brazilians have so much confidence in the almost same Giba-led squad, with more mature skills and more cohesive teamwork, in August that local media have called for the volleyball fans to make preparations to celebrate the team's success in Beijing.

Brazilian coach Bernado Rezende has also shown great expectation to his captain.

"Giba is the type of player that when it's a big game, a big event, he's always ready," he said.

However, Giba has kept low key for his second Olympic trip, saying that the fate is in God's hand.

"I already have one Olympic gold medal. I just do my best," he said.

Born to a baker family in Londrina, Brazil in 1976, Giba passed through many adversities in the earlier years -- he had leukemia when he was a baby and injured his arm badly in his childhood.

The boy overcome the hardships and showed great gift in volleyball.

Giba debuted in a Senior World Championship at the age of 17 and his team took the gold medal.

That was the beginning of a sport dossier whose greatest splendor was reached at Athens 2004 Olympics.

Despite being only higher than the libero in his team, the 1.92-meter lanky wing spiker has the ability to score from anywhere on the court with an average successful attack percentage of more than 50 percent.

Additionally, he can see the next couple of moves well before his opponents, which makes him also a strong defensive player.

Sometimes carrying on is the greatest challenge for many athletes, but Giba has handled unexpectedly well. His winning momentum seems unstoppable after Athens. The latest regalia include gold medal and the most valuable player title of the 2007 World Cup.

Since the birth of his first daughter, Nicolle, on the midway through Athens Games, Giba has developed a balance between his father role life and his on-court intensity, which has allowed him to provide Brazil with the type of leadership it needs -- more responsible, considerate and enthusiastic Giba.

Currently, Giba recovered from an ankle injury, and his teammates are preparing for the 2008 World League final round scheduled from July 23-27, an important warm-up for the Beijing Games. Brazil will face their Olympic preliminary rivals Russia and Poland.

Besides regular court training, the team has also begun learning Chinese.

"All is for the best in Beijing," said Coach Bernado Rezende.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2008)