If you’ve ever watched SportsCenter, you have probably seen John Brenkus host segments on Sport Science. Whether analyzing Marshawn Lynch’s improbable playoff-clinching touchdown run or measuring the reaction time of NASCAR driver, Carl Edwards, Brenkus seeks to understand the sports we love utilizing cutting-edge science and technology.
Photo by Kelly Bailey
These segments are visually stunning and the conclusions are often informative.
Brenkus entertainingly brings sports science to the masses. In general, sports science is the study of mechanics and physics applied to human performance. In other words, sports science uses the tools and techniques available to analyze human movement to better understand how athletes perform at high levels.
Measuring Performance
At a deeper level, sports science exists to augment our understanding of the sports we play. If we can analyze a movement and understand ways to make it more efficient, our athletes will become better players.
Beneath the fancy technology of these segments, Brenkus analyzes the movements of the best professional athletes sports offers. Even more, he investigates what factors contribute to their success. A man always seeking answers, Brenkus notes,
“I love to think of questions and then try to find the most compelling answer. This is why I feel that science fits me so well. Although people think that science provides definite answers, for me, it constantly presents an endless sea of questions that need to be answered.”
Brenkus’ segments unveil the complexities of motion and function in a cool and interesting way. If you had access to Brenkus for a day, what would you want to study? In what ways could sports science add to athletic development?
The Many Elements of Sports Science
How awesome is it to have access to such a segment on SportsCenter? Not only do we have a chance to analyze the best in the business as they train, we get to learn in an entertaining way. The discipline of sports science possesses several defining elements. ESPN’s Sport Science focuses on one specific element, sports biomechanics, making it fun and intriguing for the public. For athletes to unlock their full potential, they need to couple sports biomechanics with functional fitness, nutrition, and mental edge.
What are your thoughts on John Brenkus and Sport Science? Do you enjoy his segments? In what ways could sports science help your athletic pursuits?
Share your thoughts below.
