File photo of Shawn Barber
Former world pole vault champion Shawn Barber of Canada has died at age 29 at his home in Texas, his agent announced on Thursday. Barber won the 2015 world title at Beijing by clearing 5.90 meters and captured his other major international crown on home-nation soil in Toronto at the 2015 Pan American Games. Paul Doyle, Barber’s agent, announced his passing on an Instagram posting. No cause of death was revealed.
“A friend that will never be forgotten. Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter Shawn Barber has passed away,” said the message on Doyle Management’s Instagram page.
“He is currently the Canadian record holder with his personal best of 6.00m and was the 2015 World Champion in the Pole Vault.
#Throwback to Shawn Barber’s 5.90m clearance at the 2015 World Championships to secure him the gold medal
Once a champion, always a champion. RIP pic.twitter.com/J8Qem6gOOP
— Owen M (@_OwenM_) January 18, 2024
“Shawn was also an Olympic finalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. He will be greatly missed.”
Our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Shawn Barber, Canadian Pole Vaulter – 2015 World Champion, Rio 2016 Olympian and Canadian Record Holder. pic.twitter.com/Mn7DcVKgqy
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) January 18, 2024
Barber set the Canadian indoor record of 6.00 in 2016 at the Pole Vault Summit and cleared 5.93 in July 2015 to set a Canadian outdoor mark.
Barber, who held dual US and Canadian citizenship, took silver at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after claiming a bronze in 2014 at Glasgow.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Barber finished 10th, clearing 5.50m.
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