Giovane: A winner at all levels
 Giovane spikes the ball over Goran Vujevic of Serbia and Montenegro during last year's World Cup. AFP |  |
Having won the past three major titles since 2002, Brazil will line up as hot favourites for the Olympic volleyball gold medal when the tournament takes centre stage in Athens.
The team will be led by veteran star Giovane (real name Giovane Farinazzo Gavio), who will be trying to cap a glorious career, which has also featured a spell in beach volleyball, with a second Olympic gold.
Born in Juiz de Fora, his father was in the military and it was his eldest sister Giseli - a beach volleyball player - who inspired the younger Giovane to take up the game.
His jumping ability and strength quickly made him stand out and he joined his local team, combining playing with his studies at a Jesuit college, as a 16-year-old.
His rise continued and a move to the Banespa team prompted a call up to the national team and the accolade of the world's best blocker in 1989.
Brazil, with Giovane in their ranks, then won the Olympic title at Barcelona in 1992, although four years later they slipped to fifth place at the Games in Atlanta.
In 1997, he swapped the gymnasium for the beach, switching codes to link up with his friend Tande and spending three years on the sand circuit before returning to the indoor game in early 2000.
The speed and power of his attacking play were next on display for the Italian club Piemone, while Brazil were almost unstoppable.
The South Americans won the 2002 World Championships, defeating Russia in the final; took the 2003 World Cup with a victory over Serbia and Montenegro; and capped their run off with a win in the World League over Italy.
The national team continues to sparkle under the guidance of former women's coach Bernardo Rocha de Resende, and Giovane is so respected he has been honoured by Brazil president Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
Off the court, he is married to Priscila and a father of three, one of the children from a former marriage.
Entering the twilight of his career, he can ice the cake with a second Olympic title in what promises to be an exciting competition in Greece.
Giovane
>Date of birth: September 7 1970
>Place of birth: Juiz de Fora (Brazil)
>Height: 194cm
>Weight: 98kg
>Performances
Olympic Games: Winner (1992), 5th (1996)
World Championships: Winner (2002)
World League: Winner (1993, 2003)
World Cup: Winner (2003)
Pan American Games: 2nd (1991)
South American Championship: Winner (1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2003)
