Jaqueline Endre’s libero adventure didn’t pan out. After only one competition in her new role, the two-time Olympic Champion wasn’t called up on Brazil’s NT head coach José Roberto Guimarães‘ first list for the World Championship and decided to retire from the team after 18 years of service. The news came as a shock to all of her fans. Let’s remember her original words upon starting the VNL only a few weeks ago:
“Surely, this step is a fresh start for me. I know that if I want to prolong my national team career, this move is my best chance. I will try to adapt quickly to contribute to the team, as I have always done. I’m going to do what’s possible and impossible to improve. I’m thinking big now, I want to be in the 2020 games.”
That tone quickly changed in her farewell message:
“Gratitude…My loves, after deep thinking, I decided to dedicate myself at this moment to new projects, and my family. I want to accompany my little one, who is growing fast, more closely. It was 18 years in the Brazilian Team, with great love and dedication, which gave me many stories, joys and friendships that I will carry with for a lifetime. I thank the entire team and technical staff for their years of support, care and professionalism. And of course, all my fans, who always accompanied me! I thank God for all the and affection you have for me. Everything I could do, I did with a lot of love!”
Now fans will beg the question, did her decision to retire come before or after Guimarães’ decision to not call her up for the World Championship? Regardless, Brazil has a libero problem, and Jaqueline was not the ideal answer for it. The now 34-year-old has already lost a lot of her step and would have a lot of difficulty in cracking the team’s rotation. The flack her husband and her have received since changing positions must have not have helped motivate Jaqueline either.
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