Shawn Barber went from standout player to world champion in Akron. (Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Shawn Barber, a Canadian pole vault world champion and Olympian, has died, his agent Paul Doyle announced Thursday. He was 29 years old.
Barber's cause of death is not yet known, but Doyle told the Associated Press that his client had had health problems. Barber reportedly died on Wednesday at his home in Kingswood, Texas.
From the AP:
“Shawn was more than just an incredible athlete, he was such a kind-hearted person who always put others before himself,” Doyle said Thursday. “It is tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”
Barber's career reached its peak in 2015 with his victory at the World Championships in Beijing, where he cleared 5.90 meters in his first attempt. German competitor Raphael Holzdeppe was able to match him on his third attempt, but since both athletes failed to clear the 6 meters, Barber remained world champion.
The following year, Barber competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he reached the final and placed 10th. Brazilian Thiago Braz won gold in this event.
Other achievements in Barber's career included three NCAA titles while at the University of Akron, two indoor titles, the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships, the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016 World Indoor Tour.
Barber's career highs of 6 meters indoors and 5.90 meters outdoors remain Canadian national records.