Brazilian Volleyball legend and World Championship, World Cup, World League and Olympic champion Nalbert Bittencourt announced he is to retire.
After 20 years in the sport to spend more time with his family and newly born baby daughter, Rafaela.
The 36-year-old also played on the 2006 SWATCH FIVB World Tour recording a fourth place finish high in Marseille, France with partner Luizão. Additionally, he played on two legs of the 2009 tour in Brasilia, Brazil and Kagenfurt, Austria, the latter of which he finished in 17th with Franco.
“The heart hurts, but it is necessary to say that it is time to stop,” said Bittencourt, who also won the FIVB Youth World Championship in 1991 and the FIVB Junior World Championship in 1993. “An athlete needs challenges and goals and I feel I have no more goals to hunt for.”
Nalbert played 418 matches with the Brazilian national team and picked up 340 wins in total.
The spiker won the gold medal at the FIVB 2002 World Championships in Argentina, and followed that up with the FIVB 2003 World Cup in Japan, as well as the FIVB World League in 2003 and 2004. Additionally, he won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games after recovering from shoulder surgery.
“I was very fortunate as I was born when Brazilian volleyball was developing. I could take advantage of the structure and have the results”
Former team mates have already come out and praised Nalbert for his dedication to the sport over the last two decades. “He is an example of our generation,” said Gustavo Endres, who won the World Championship, World Cup and Olympic Games with the player. “He was leader in that team and I have a huge respect for him. The World Championship was our biggest win and he was our best player.”
“More than a winning player, Nalbert is a legend in sports and one of the best people I know,” added Bruno Rezende, current setter of the Brazilian team and son of Brazilian coach Bernardinho, whom Nalbert played under.
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Although always competitive, Nalbert described the transition from Volleyball to Beach Volleyball as very difficult.
“Volleyball and Beach Volleyball are totally different sports,” he said. “If you want to be a top player, you must choose one of them to invest in. The transition is very tough.”
The ex-player has also already expressed a desire to stay involved with the game in a managerial role as well, and aims to use his experience of playing to benefit others. “I want to use the experience gathered in my career,” he explained. “I am going to study a Sports Management Course at the Brazilian Olympic Committee.”
from FIVB