The athletic world is mourning the untimely passing of Shawn Barber, the Canadian pole vault record holder and 2015 world champion. At the age of 29, Barber succumbed to medical complications in his Kingwood, T.X home. The cause of his death remains unknown, but he had been grappling with health issues in recent months, according to his agent, Paul Doyle.

Barber’s meteoric rise began at the University of Akron, where he asserted his dominance by clinching back-to-back NCAA indoor championships in 2014 and 2015. His triumph continued with an NCAA outdoor title in 2015 and a gold medal at the Pan-Am Games later that summer. The pinnacle of his career came in the same year when he claimed gold at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

In 2016, Barber showcased his prowess by reaching the final in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. His indelible mark on Canadian pole vaulting is evident in his record-breaking performances, with a best vault of 6.00m indoors and 5.93m outdoors.

Shawn Barber’s legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements; he leaves behind a grieving family, survived by his mother, Ann; father, George; and brother, David. The sporting community mourns the loss of a talented and accomplished athlete, remembering Barber for his contributions to the world of pole vaulting.