Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber, 2015 World Pole Vault Champion, Passes Away at 29
The Canadian athletics community is in mourning following the tragic loss of Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber, the renowned pole vaulter and 2015 world champion. Barber, aged 29, passed away on Wednesday at his home in Kingwood, Texas, according to his agent, Paul Doyle. The cause of death is currently unknown, but it has been reported that Barber had been in poor health for some time.
Barber, who holds the Canadian record in pole vault, was the only Canadian man to join the exclusive six-metre club. He achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including winning the gold medal for Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing with a remarkable jump of 5.90 metres. Additionally, he secured gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Despite his achievements, Barber narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reaching the final in the pole vault event, which was ultimately won by Thiago Braz of Brazil.
Described by his agent, Paul Doyle, as not only an incredible athlete but also a kind-hearted person who always prioritized others, Barber’s untimely passing is a great loss to the sporting community. Doyle expressed his grief on Instagram, stating, “It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”
Although Barber was raised in Texas, he divided his time between Toronto and Houston. His decision to represent Canada was strongly influenced by his father, who had also been a pole vaulter and represented Canada at the 1983 World Championships.
Shawnacy Barber is survived by his mother, Ann, his father, George, and his brother, David.
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