Shawn Barber Death: Canadian Pole Vaulter Dies At 29

Shawn Barber, the 29-year-old Canadian world champion pole vaulter, has tragically passed away at his residence in Kingwood, Texas, due to medical complications, as confirmed by his agent, Paul Doyle.

Doyle said in a statement, “Shawn was a lot more than just an incredibly talented athlete. He was a good-hearted individual who always looked out for others first,” Doyle said. “Losing such a person at a young age is tragic”, he continued.

Shawn is survived by his brother, David, and his parents, Ann and George. Here in this post, we’ll take a look into Shawn Barber’s career and more details regarding his life.

Know More About Shawn Barber

Shawnacy Campbell Barber, born on May 27, 1994, was a Canadian track and field athlete known for pole vaulting. He achieved global recognition by winning the pole vault event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing with a height of 5.90 meters.

Additionally, Barber secured the Pan American Games title in 2015, clearing a height of 5.80 meters, and earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

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His best outdoor jump, setting a national record, was 5.93 meters on July 25, 2015. Indoors, he reached a personal best of 6.00 meters in 2016, establishing the Canadian Indoor Record. Barber shares the Pan American record with Lázaro Borges and also holds the NCAA Collegiate Indoor Record at 5.91 meters. Unfortunately, Shawnacy Barber passed away on January 17, 2024, at the age of 29.

About Shawn Barber’s Personal Life

Barber possessed dual Canadian-American citizenship, as he was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to his father, George Barber, who grew up in El Paso, Texas, but was originally from Kincardine, Ontario.

When Shawn was 10 years old, his parents divorced, and he relocated to New Caney, Texas, splitting his upbringing between the Toronto area and the United States. He graduated from Kingwood Park High School in Houston.

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Despite his diverse background, Barber considered Toronto his hometown during competitions. He chose to represent Canada in his sport, pole vaulting, citing its significance in the country. This decision was also influenced by his father, who had been a pole vaulter for Canada at the 1983 World Championships and had twice competed in Team Canada’s Summer Olympic trials. In April 2017, Barber publicly disclosed his sexual orientation, coming out as gay

On January 17, 2024, at the age of 29, Shawn Barber passed away at his residence in Kingwood, Texas, succumbing to medical complications after a period of declining health.