Insights from a Champion: G2’s mimi guests on the Aimlabs Podcast
A new episode of the Aimlabs Podcast is now live, with hosts Dr. Wayne Mackey and Jimmy Lin sitting down with G2 Gozen’s Michaela “mimi” Lintrup, one of the standout stars of VALORANT’s Game Changers scene. A former CS:GO pro turned top-tier VALORANT player, mimi brought her insight and personality to a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to perform at the highest level, and how to protect your mental along the way.
Early on in the episode, mimi shared her love for winding down with a specific survival game after a day of practice. It’s a small reminder that recovery is just as important as training, especially in a mentally demanding esport. Mimi also described the difference between training remotely and boot camping in person with G2 Gozen, where simple rituals, such as fist bumps, help build team chemistry and set the tone for productive practice.
The group also touched on what it means to be an in-game leader, and how that role often comes with trade-offs… especially when it comes to personal stats. Mimi opened up about how she’s using a certain Aimlabs playlist to help keep her mechanics sharp despite the cognitive load that comes with leading (though this is not mimi’s first run with Aimlabs!). Interestingly, she trains with Aimlabs after practice or matches, rather than before, to avoid burning out before the action starts.
Sleep and recovery were recurring themes, with mimi reinforcing what several guests have already echoed on the podcast: sleep quality has a major impact on performance. It’s easy to overlook, but proper rest can be the edge that separates good players from great ones.
Finally, the show touches on another popular topic, online toxicity. Mimi shared her perspective on how VALORANT, thanks in part to Riot’s agent design and representation, has created a more welcoming space for women than some other titles. The team also talked about how to handle toxic teammates, with mimi emphasizing that matching someone’s negative energy never leads anywhere good.
If you want the full story, with plenty of insightful side tangents, make sure to check out the full episode on the Aimlabs YouTube channel!