later, I’d be completing a master’s degree of sports psychology in the German Sports Univer- sity of Cologne in the first cohort of their new program in 2016, and in 2018, starting to work in esports!


FABIAN BROICH TAPPED FOR ESPORTS OLYMPICS SERIES


Fabian Broich ’16 founded Achieveminds, an esports performance consulting agency, with the ideas of implementing wellbeing, health and performance into a team’s infrastructure. Achieveminds’ services include representing esports talent, creating performance structures, and improving the wellbeing and performance of players.


Originally from Rommerskirchen, Germany, Broich was recently named one of two esports performance experts for the 2023 Olympics Esports Series’ global and virtual competition. He answered a few questions about his time at Winthrop and what inspired his interest in the growing esports industry.


Q: How did you hear about Winthrop? Why did you ultimately decide to attend?


A: I transferred to Winthrop as a sophomore to become the goalkeeper for the soccer team.


Q: What were your original career aspirations? To become a professional soccer player?


A: Yes, my plan was to play professional soccer. I also started with a business administration degree because I didn’t know what else I wanted to do. After taking classes with Dr. Ritzer [Darren Ritzer, professor of psychology and department chair], it became clear to me that I wanted to study psychology. Little did I know, a few years


Regardless of what you do, where you are, in a team, in a company, in a group of people… the more you feel welcomed, respected and appreciated, the better you will do. - Fabian Broich


” “


18 19


Q: Do you have any fond memories and/or expe- riences from Winthrop you’d like to talk about?


Tapped for


A: Yes! My coaches and teammates really made me grow and work hard. I learned to “just do it” and believe in “what you put in, you eventually get out.” But my best memories are winning the Big South Championship in 2015, Thanksgiving spent with teammates’ families, and traveling the very diverse states in the U.S.


Q: What inspired your interest in esports?


A: To be very honest, after realizing playing soc- cer professionally was becoming more and more difficult to make happen, I did not know what to do. A friend of mine became the chief in a pro- fessional football club, Schalke 04, and needed a sports psychologist for his players. I didn’t really know if it was a fit, but fairly quickly we could see yes, it was! I could work with young individuals who need help to perform and who go through


the same obstacles and issues as I do.


Q: Your beliefs are “implementing wellbeing, health and performance into a team’s infrastruc- ture” – why do you feel those components are crucial for esports teams?


A: Regardless of what you do, where you are, in a team, in a company, in a group of people…the more you feel welcomed, respected and appre- ciated, the better you will do. Role clarification, goals, different tasks all need to be achieved. It’s a team effort, but the same with the environ- ment. When we talk about high performance, we talk about high stress; if you can’t count on an environment that lets you heal or recover when you’re not performing, then it’s going to be very toxic on mind and body.


Q: How were you selected as one of two esports performance experts for the Olympics?


A: I was approached by a UK company to be in a small circle of candidates. After a few talks and a look into my background, it seemed like a natural fit. I’ve been able to support the Olympics on the esports performance articles since I come from both worlds: the sports and esports worlds.


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