Mark Fainaru-Wada

Investigative journalist, co-author of Game of Shadows[16][17]

What is Mark Fainaru-Wada known for?

Mark Fainaru-Wada is an esteemed American journalist and author, born in Los Angeles, California in 1964 or 1965. After growing up in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, Fainaru-Wada spent his high school years at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California. His career in journalism took off during his time at the Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee, where he covered women's basketball. From Tennessee, he migrated to the Los Angeles Daily News in 1990 to cover the Los Angeles Angels.

Fainaru-Wada's journalistic prowess led him to work for various news services including the short-lived National Sports Daily, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, the Scripps Howard News Service, and eventually, the San Francisco Examiner in 1997. He became a part of the San Francisco Chronicle team in 2000.

He is perhaps best known for his significant work in investigative journalism with Lance Williams, bringing the BALCO steroid scandal into the public eye. Their coverage of the scandal led to the co-authorship of the 2006 book, "Game of Shadows". He also co-wrote "League of Denial" with his brother Steve Fainaru in 2013, which explores traumatic brain injury in the National Football League (NFL).

For his journalistic contributions, Mark Fainaru-Wada received multiple awards including the George Polk Award, the Edgar A. Poe Award, the Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism, and the Associated Press Sports Editor Award. His book "League of Denial" also earned him the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing in 2014 and was adapted into a Frontline documentary that received a 2013 Peabody Award.

Mark Fainaru-Wada lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Nicole Wada, with whom he has two children. Their marriage led to the combination of their last names, resulting in his current hyphenated surname.

Throughout his career, Fainaru-Wada has consistently demonstrated his passion and dedication to his field. His work has not only informed the public but also impacted the world of journalism.

Check out his work: Mark Fainaru-Wada on IMDb