Our Story
Between the three of us, we've spent decades in sport — as young athletes finding our footing, as players competing at club and professional levels, and as coaches pouring everything we had into the next generation. We've seen firsthand what sport can do for a person. It builds character, teaches resilience, forges friendships, and shapes identity in ways that last a lifetime.
But we've also seen the gaps.
Athletes who are physically talented but mentally underprepared. Coaches who are passionate but isolated, without a community to grow alongside. Parents who want to support their child's sporting journey but don't know where to start or who to turn to. For too long, the knowledge, tools, and support that athletes and their families need have been scattered, inaccessible, or reserved for those lucky enough to be in the right programme at the right time.
We built ChampsLab to change that.
Our vision is simple — to create one space where athletes can train smarter, coaches can lead better, and parents can feel informed and empowered. A platform built not by outsiders looking in, but by people who have lived every stage of the sporting journey themselves. We bring together world-class coaching methodology, elite athlete experience, and sport science expertise — and we make it accessible to everyone.
Because every athlete deserves a chance to be a champion in their sport. That's why ChampsLab exists.
Our Founders
Fran Peterlin, Founder
Fran is a Croatian professional volleyball player standing 198cm, competing as an Outside Hitter at the highest club level in Europe. What sets Fran apart is what he does off the court — he is the founder of Upgrade Sports Agency, specialising in athlete personal branding and sport business. Having studied at Aspira College during his active playing career, Fran knows firsthand that preparing for life after sport is just as important as performing in it. He is passionate about helping athletes build identity, purpose, and longevity well beyond their playing days, which is what Champslab Stands for
Bojan Mirkovic, Founder
Bojan is a Croatian-born volleyball specialist and the only FIVB Instructor in Singapore, holding an FIVB Level 3 coaching certification — the highest level in the world. As the founder and director of the International Volleyball Club (IVC) in Singapore, he has spent over a decade developing youth athletes at the highest level. Beyond the court, Bojan is a certified FIVB coaches educator, having conducted FIVB Level 2 Coaches Courses in Singapore, training coaches from across Asia. He is also an active voice in sports governance, advocating for stronger coach certification standards and better athlete development pathways across the region.
Trevis Lee, Director
Trevis is a Singapore-based volleyball player and coach who has been in love with the sport since the age of 8. Holding a BSc in Sport Science and Management from Nanyang Technological University, he combines academic grounding with over two decades of real court experience. As a certified FIVB Level 2 Coach, Trevis takes a holistic approach to coaching through open communication, committed to developing well-rounded athletes who are physically and mentally strong. He understands what athletes and families go through at every stage of the sporting journey, and that lived experience is at the heart of everything he contributes to ChampsLab.
Our Mission
To unleash the full potential of every athlete or coach by building elite knowledge, a resilient mindset, and purpose-driven education that elevates performance from where you are to where you're meant to be. ChampsLab delivers global sports education with modern knowledge and expert-led tools to develop with power and purpose.
Our Vision
To become the world's most trusted platform for global sports education where every athlete and coach, regardless of sport or background, can learn, grow, and build a legacy that endures beyond the game.
Â
Meet some of our ChampsLab Experts
A former pro volleyball player, founder of the educational sports psychology project Mind to Play and a mental performance coach for KK Cedevita Junior. She works with basketball, volleyball, tennis, karate and footballers athletes across youth, junior, and senior levels. Her work emphasizes psychological safety as a foundation for building self-confidence, mental resilience, and emotional regulation.
Jurja Bačeković, MSc Sport Psychology
A former pro Croatian basketball player. Rudež played for a total of thirteen teams from seven different countries – including Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic in the NBA. He also formed part of the Croatian national team, representing the country in 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, 2015 World Cup in Spain, and three European Championships and Mediterranean games.
Damjan RudeĹľ, Former NBA Player, Director Sunset Festival
As the founder of the “Kvaliteta života” (Quality of Life) project, he works with athletes through the Croatian Olympic Committee, helping individuals improve their lifestyle through evidence-based strategies. In addition, he is also an educator and lecturer, known for translating complex scientific concepts into clear, applicable guidance with a strong focus on longevity, performance, and overall well-being.
Sebastijan Orlić, PhD Chem Engineering, Sport Certified Sports Nutritionist & Fitness Instructor
Member of the Croatian Olympic team preparing for the 2014 – 2021 Olympic Games and part of the Olympic team in Rio 2016. She currently works as a mental trainer, business coach, lecturer and columnist for Elle. She is especially dedicated to sharing her expertise and knowledge between the sports world and women who strive for success in the business world.
Since 2017, she has been working as a mindset coach for adidas running teams. Ana has extensive experience in public speaking and media. Tedx speaker in 2023.
Ana Čerenšek, Mental Coach / Performance Psychologist / CEO @Mentalni trening
A recipient of multiple leadership coaching awards and voted 2020 Executive Coach of the Year by Singapore Prestige Brands, Marcel Daane is a thought leader who believes that if we want different results in life, we need to possess the capacity to do things differently. A Mind-Body Leadership, Life- and Executive Coach, Marcel is considered one of the world's authorities in mind-body leadership, a combination of mindfulness and body-awareness to inspire authenticity, openness and trust in leadership, strategy, teamwork, change-management, and communication.
Marcel Daane, MSc Neuroscience of Leadership
A pioneer in the philosophy and bioethics of sport in Croatia and the wider region. He currently serves as the President of the European Association for the Philosophy of Sport. He is also a collaborator on the Sport Ethics Colloquium program at Pennsylvania State University (USA). He is the author of two original books, the first of their kind in Croatian academia: *Philosophy of Sport: The Emergence and Development of a Discipline* (2021) and *Sport Bioethics: Challenges for the Future of Sport* (2024), as well as numerous scientific papers addressing ethical and bioethical issues in sport.Â
