Annie Walton Doyle
Olympic pole vaulter Shawn Barber has died aged 29 years old.
Barber was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but his father, George, was born in Ontario.
This meant Barber split his time between the USA and Canada, although it was Canada he eventually chose to represent in his sporting championships.
Barber started his career as a student-athlete at the University of Akron and he would go on to represent Canada at the Olympics.
But tragically, his agent has confirmed that he has passed away.
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Barber’s Agent, Paul Doyle, told the Associated Press that he died at his home in Kingwood, Texas, on Wednesday, January 17.
“More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person that always put others ahead of himself. It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age,” Doyle added to AP.
The Olympian’s management agency confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Thursday that read: “A friend that will never be forgotten. Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter Shawn Barber has passed away.”
His agency also drew attention to Barber’s huge athletic achievements, writing: “He is currently the Canadian record holder with his personal best of 6.00m and was the 2015 World Champion in the Pole Vault. Shawn was also an Olympic finalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
“He will be greatly missed.”
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Tributes for the sporting talent have come rolling in, with Athletics Canada writing on X, formerly Twitter: “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.”
World Athletics echoed the sentiment, adding: “Keep flying, Shawn. World Athletics is deeply saddened by the passing of Shawn Barber, the 2015 world pole vault champion. Condolences go out to his family, friends and fellow vaulters.”
Keep flying, Shawn ✨
World Athletics is deeply saddened by the passing of Shawn Barber, the 2015 world pole vault champion.
Condolences go out to his family, friends and fellow vaulters. pic.twitter.com/mVMLsJ68iC
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) January 19, 2024
Doyle also revealed to AP that Barber had been dealing with some health issues at the time of his passing.
No cause of death has been confirmed at this time.
While at the University of Akron, Barber won the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Indoor Pole Vault Champion titles, making him the first-ever athlete to win back-to-back.
And, even more impressively, Barber won one of his five Canadian titles that year as well.
Barber won the 2015 world championships in Beijing, China, with a mark of 5.90m.
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He then made the final at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, although that pole vault event was eventually won by Thiago Braz of Brazil.
Barber’s 2015 world championship win earned Canada its first-ever world pole vault medal and was the country’s first athletics world title in 12 years, as per CTV News.
Barber’s best vault was six meters, which he obtained on January 15, 2016, in Reno, Nevada, and remains the Canadian record, per the Associated Press.
The Olympic star is survived by his mother, Ann, father, George, and brother, David.
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