Athletes pay tribute to Canadian pole vaulter Shawn Barber
Athletes from around the world are mourning the loss of Barber, who died on Wednesday at 29
Photo by:
Filip Bossuyt/WC
In a sombre moment in Canadian sport, the news of the death of Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber shocked the athletics world on Thursday. The 2015 world pole vault champion has left fans and athletes grieving and will be remembered as one of the best vaulters in the world and one of Canada’s most respected athletes in the sport. He was 29.
Many athletes from around the world paid tribute to the former world champion, remembering the mark he left on the sport and the hearts of all who knew him.
Alysha Newman (Canadian Olympian and women’s pole vault record holder)
The Canadian women’s pole vault national record holder and 2018 Commonwealth Games champion wrote on Instagram: “Shawn, my teammate, my dear friend and confidant. I’m honoured to have been in the same walk of life as you. To many, Shawn is known as one of the greatest male Pole Vaulters of all-time, but to me, Shawn changed the way I lived life. With Shawn around there was never a bad day. With him, heaviness was lightened, tears turned into laughter and on every bad jump day, he had two drinks in hand to help pass defeat. These weren’t even the best parts of Shawn. Shawn was so selfless. He would go above and beyond to make sure everyone around him was good before he was. He never missed a “thank you” or a gesture to show people how thankful he was for their help,”
Mondo Duplantis (world and Olympic pole vault champion)
Katie Nageotte (Olympic pole vault champion)
Nageotte shared on her Instagram story: “While we weren’t close in recent years, he played a significant part in my pole vault journey that helped me get where I am today. You won’t be forgotten Shawn.”
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu (Canadian 800m record holder)
Paul Doyle (Barber’s agent)
“More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person who always put others ahead of himself. It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age,” wrote Doyle.
Thiago Braz (Brazilian pole vaulter and 2016 Olympic champion)
Barber’s career was highlighted by a gold medal for Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, where he soared to a height of 5.90 metres. His accolades also include a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The last time Barber competed was in February 2020.
He is survived by his mother, Ann; father, George; and brother, David.
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