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John Brenkus

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John Brenkus
Brenkus in 2010
BornJuly 2, 1971
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died (aged 53)
Virginia, U.S.
EducationJames Madison High School
Alma materUniversity of Virginia (BA)
Occupations
OrganizationBASE Productions
Known forBrinx.TV
Television
Websitewww.johnbrenkus.com

John Brenkus (July 2, 1971 – May 31, 2025) was an American producer, director, and television personality. He was the co-founder and co-CEO of BASE Productions, a production company that specializes in creating reality television programs for channels such as Spike, National Geographic, and ESPN. His company's most popular programs include Fight Science and Sport Science, the latter for which he served as host. In 2013, he founded and became the CEO of his own media production company, Brinx.TV, which produced and was a platform for sports and general media coverage, as well as betting. Brenkus featured in or hosted a number of segments for Brinx.TV. He also hosted a podcast, The Brink of Midnight.

Early life and education

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Brenkus was born on July 2, 1971, in Washington, D.C.[1][2] He grew up in Vienna, Virginia, and attended James Madison High School, where he played many sports.[3]

He graduated from the University of Virginia.[4]

Production career

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During the early years of his career, Brenkus produced numerous short films and music video projects before launching full-time into film and television writing, production and direction.[3] Brenkus also invested in (and shot the music videos for) DC-area band Emmet Swimming.[5] He also served as the co-CEO and co-founder of BASE Productions, a production company founded in 1992 that produces reality television shows and documentaries.[6][7][8]

Sport Science and ESPN

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Further information: Sport Science (TV program)

Brenkus created and hosted Sport Science, a television series that presented the concepts of the science and engineering that underlined athletic endeavors. Initially running as an hour-long show on Fox Sports Networks in 2007, Brenkus then sold the television series to ESPN in 2010, where it aired as a segmented show until 2017.[9][10][11] The show often was filmed inside a Los Angeles airport hangar or on location using a mobile laboratory with the focus on testing certain aspects of athletics (such as human flight and reaction time), re-analyzing sporting moments (including "deflategate" in 2015), or trials and tribulations and puts man against animals or machines.[12][13]

Sport Science was a spin-off of the 2006 series Fight Science: Calculating the Ultimate Warrior,[3] which emphasized more of the science than the fighting, on the National Geographic channel. When speaking to NPR in 2011 about the creativity that went into creating Sport Science, Brenkus said that it was a collaborative effort between the network, staff, athletes, and audience.[14] The show was nominated for four Sports Emmy Awards in 2008 for Series 1, winning for Outstanding Graphic Design.[15] Series 2 was nominated in 2009 for five Emmys and received two awards – again for Outstanding Graphic Design and also for Outstanding New Approaches in Sports Programming.[16]

Brinx.TV

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In 2021, Brenkus founded and became the CEO of Brinx.TV, which produced and was a platform for sports and general media coverage, as well as betting.[17][18] Brenkus featured in or hosted in some segments for Brinx.TV.[19] He teased The Goat Code in 2023 as "Sports Science On Steroids";[20] the program used career and physical science analysis, along with guest interviews, with notable guests such as Dwight Freeney, Jim Covert, Drew Pearson, Walter Jones, Mike Singletary, and Marcus Allen.[21]

Brinx.TV also partnered with a number of events and organizations, being announced as the Title Sponsor for the 2024–2025 World Downhill Skateboarding Championship with the Brinx Cup,[22] partnering with Icon Source on The NIL House,[23] and reaching a multi-year broadcast agreement with the American Cornhole League.[24] Brenkus hosted and produced a number of live broadcast events at Brinx.TV, such as the 2024 WBC Super Featherweight Championship bout, "Hit Like a Girl, Fight Like a Champion," featuring Alycia Baumgardner vs Delfine Persoon.[25]

Other projects

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In 2010, Brenkus wrote The New York Times bestselling book The Perfection Point.[26] In the book, Brenkus sets out to discover the limits for nine athletic events.[27] The book details Brenkus's analysis of a wide variety of athletes to provide an in-depth look at the absolute limits of human performance. In a 2013 interview with Mashable, Brenkus was asked whether or not humans will continue to keep accomplishing new levels of athletic achievement, or if there is a limit to what people are capable of athletically. He answered specifically from his book, stating "there obviously has to be a limit when you factor in what it means to be human, the rules of sports and what the human body is capable of. There are absolutely limits to how fast we can run, how high we can jump, how long we can hold our breath".[28] Brenkus later said in a Time interview that the book's point was "not about the destination but the journey", and it regarded "really about what are we as a species going to do as we try to achieve perfection".[29]

Brenkus formed a band, named The Brink of Midnight, with his then-wife, Lizzie. They wrote a Christmas song[30] that went viral, which they used to raise money for unite4:Good.[31] He also hosted a podcast with the same name.[32]

Personal life and death

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Brenkus died on May 31, 2025.[33] His death was announced on June 1, 2025, through his company Brinx.TV's social media. In the statement it said he "had been battling depression" and that he "lost his fight with this terrible illness".[34][full citation needed] The Virginia Department of Health's chief medical examiner confirmed to TMZ that Brenkus had died by suicide.[35]

In 2023, Brenkus revealed he had previously attempted suicide, following the sale of Sport Science to ESPN.[36][37]

References

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  1. ^ Mather, Victor (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, Who Merged Sports and Science on TV, Dies at 53". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025. John D. Brenkus was born July 2, 1971, according to voter registration records, in Washington, D.C.
  2. ^ Greenberg, Stacy Steponate. "The Overhead Compartment with John Brenkus". pursuitist.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c McClain, Buzz (January 23, 2011). "The 'Science' of Success: John Brenkus's hit sports show is part of a locally grown media franchise". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  4. ^ Lee Graves (Spring 2011). "Physical Science: John Brenkus (Col '93) explores the physics—and aches and pains—of athletics". UVA Magazine. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Kumar, Ashmit (June 2, 2025). "'RIP': America in Mourning Over John Brenkus' Death Who Once Explained Science Behind LeBron James' Athleticism". EssentiallySports. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ^ Cobb, Kayla (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, Co-Creator and Host of 'Sport Science,' Dies at 54". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  7. ^ Hiramoto, KJ (June 1, 2025). "'Sports Science' host John Brenkus dies at 54". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "Base Productions". Indeed. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  9. ^ Morse, Ben (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, founder and host of Emmy-winning 'Sports Science' show, dies aged 54 after battle with depression". CNN. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  10. ^ Kleen, Brendon (December 5, 2024). "ESPN should bring back 'Sport Science,' and not just because everyone loved it". Awful Announcing. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  11. ^ Nitish Bajaj, Yash (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus cause of death: How did Sport Science founder die? All on health issues and more". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  12. ^ Quinn, Dan (January 22, 2015). "Deflategate gets Sport Science treatment". ESPN Front Row. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  13. ^ Murray, Tom (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, founder and host of ESPN's Sports Science, dies aged 54". The Independent. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  14. ^ "Writer Explains The Science Of Sport". NPR.org. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "sports_29th_winners". Emmy Online. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  16. ^ "Emmy Online" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  17. ^ Kosko, Nick (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, host of 'Sport Science,' dies at 54". On3.com. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  18. ^ "The Launch Of Brinx.TV Redefines Interactive Sports Programming, Earning 60 Million Impressions During Coverage Of The Big Football Game". PR Newswire (Press release). February 10, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2025 – via Brinx.TV.
  19. ^ Lau-Adams, Kristie (June 4, 2025). "Sport Science Host John Brenkus' Death at 54: Cause Revealed". Us Weekly. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  20. ^ McCarthy, Michael (January 18, 2023). "'Sport Science On Steroids:' Popular Show Returns in 2023". Front Office Sports. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  21. ^ "GOAT Code". Brinx.TV.
  22. ^ Aixa-Requena, Saül; Camerino, Oleguer; Iglesias, Xavier (April 1, 2025). "Análisis observacional de una modalidad extrema de skateboard: el downhill skateboarding". Apunts Educación Física y Deportes (160): 35–48. doi:10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2025/2).160.05. ISSN 1577-4015.
  23. ^ "John Brenkus, Creator and Host of ESPN Sport Science and The NIL House, Signs Ground-Breaking Deal with Icon Source". WIAT (Press release). EIN Presswire. December 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  24. ^ "The American Cornhole League and Brinx.TV Reach Muti-Year Broadcast Agreement". WHNT-TV. EIN Presswire. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  25. ^ "BrinxTV Presents: 'Hit Like A Girl, Fight Like a Champion' – Alycia Baumgardner vs Delfine Persoon WBC Title Fight". wrbl.com.
  26. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books − Best Sellers". The New York Times. September 19, 2010.
  27. ^ Brenkus, John (September 16, 2010). "Is There Such a Thing As Perfection in Athletic Performance?". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  28. ^ Laird, Sam. "6 Questions With 'Sport Science' Creator John Brenkus". Mashable. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  29. ^ Sanburn, Josh (September 17, 2010). "How Fast Will Humans Ever Run?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  30. ^ Allen, Scott (December 3, 2014). "Why ESPN's 'Sport Science' host John Brenkus released a Christmas music video". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  31. ^ Unite4:good Foundation. "ESPN's John Brenkus And Wife Lizzie Brenkus Co-Write And Perform The Holiday Song "Christmas Is My Favorite Time Of Year" Featuring Some Of Today's Most Iconic Sports Professionals; Proceeds Of The Downloads To Benefit Unite4: Good.org". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "John Brenkus Dies at 54, Co-Created and Hosted ESPN's Sport Science". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  33. ^ Yoder, Matt (June 2, 2025). "Sport Science founder John Brenkus passes away". Awful Announcing. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  34. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  35. ^ "John Brenkus, 'Sport Science' Host, Died By Suicide, Medical Examiner Says". TMZ. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  36. ^ Marcellus Wiley ‘Dat Dude TV’ (January 20, 2023). John Brenkus tried to commit suicide after selling Sport Science to ESPN & his dog saved him. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Flowers, Viola (June 2, 2025). "John Brenkus, 'Sports Science' host and co-creator, dies at 54". NBC News. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
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