Canadian world champion pole vaulter Shawnacy Barber dies at 29
The Canadian record holder in the pole vault died at his home in Kingwood, Texas on Wednesday
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The Canadian athletics community mourns a tragic loss with the death of Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber, the 2015 world pole vault champion. He was 29.
According to his agent, Paul Doyle, Barber died on Wednesday at his home in Kingwood, Texas. The cause of death is currently unknown, but a report from the Associated Press mentioned that Barber had fallen ill and had been experiencing poor health for some time.
Barber, the current Canadian record holder in the pole vault, was the sole Canadian man to enter pole vault’s six-metre club. His achievements include winning gold for Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing with a jump of 5.90 metres. Additionally, he won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Barber reached the final in the pole vault, which was won by Thiago Braz. The last time Barber competed was in February 2020.
“More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person that always put others ahead of himself,” wrote Doyle on Instagram. “It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”
Although Barber grew up in Texas, he split his time between Toronto and Houston. His decision to represent Canada was influenced by his father, who was a pole vaulter for Canada at the 1983 World Championships.
He is survived by his mother, Ann; father, George; and brother, David.
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