Shawn Barber Cause of Death and Obituary: What Happened to Canadian World Champion Pole Vaulter?
Shawn Barber, the Canadian pole vault record holder and 2015 world champion, passed away on Wednesday at his home in Texas. He was 29 years old. His agent, Paul Doyle, confirmed his death to the Associated Press, but did not reveal the cause of death. Barber had been suffering from health issues for some time.
Barber was one of the most successful and talented pole vaulters in the world, who achieved remarkable feats in his short but brilliant career. He was the first Canadian to win a world title in pole vault, and the only one to clear six meters. He also represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he reached the final.
In this article, we will pay tribute to Barber’s life and legacy, and remember some of his memorable moments in the sport. We will also share some of the reactions and condolences from his family, friends, teammates, and fans.
Early Life and Career
Shawn Barber was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on May 27, 1994. He had dual Canadian-American citizenship, as his father, George, was born in Kincardine, Ontario. George was also a pole vaulter, who competed for Canada at the 1983 World Championships and coached his son throughout his career.
World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that Canadian pole vaulter Shawn Barber died on Wednesday at the age of 29.
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) January 19, 2024
Our thoughts go out to his friends and family in this difficult time.
Barber grew up in Texas, where he attended Kingwood Park High School. He showed great potential in pole vault from an early age, breaking the national high school record with a jump of 5.71 meters in 2012. He also won the gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain, setting a new championship record of 5.55 meters.
Shawn then enrolled at the University of Akron in Ohio, where he continued to excel in pole vault. He won three NCAA titles, two indoor and one outdoor, and set a new collegiate indoor record of 5.91 meters in 2015. He also won five Canadian national titles, and became the first Canadian to clear 5.90 meters at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where he won the gold medal.
World Champion and Olympian
Shawn’s crowning achievement came later that year, when he won the gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China. He cleared 5.90 meters on his first attempt, beating the defending champion Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany and the Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France. He became the first Canadian to win a world title in pole vault, and the first Canadian to win a world title in any track and field event since Perdita Felicien in 2003.
Barber’s victory was celebrated by his fellow Canadians, who praised him for his courage and skill. He was also congratulated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who tweeted: “Congratulations to Shawn Barber for winning gold in the pole vault at the World Championships. You’ve made Canada very proud.”
#Throwback to Shawn Barber’s 🇨🇦 5.90m clearance at the 2015 World Championships to secure him the gold medal ❤️
— Owen M (@_OwenM_) January 18, 2024
Once a champion, always a champion. RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/J8Qem6gOOP
Shawn’s next goal was to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was considered one of the favorites. He qualified for the final with a jump of 5.70 meters, but struggled in the rainy and windy conditions. He failed to clear 5.65 meters on his first two attempts, and then decided to skip to 5.75 meters. He cleared it on his third and final attempt, but it was not enough to secure a medal. He finished in 10th place, while Braz of Brazil won the gold with a new Olympic record of 6.03 meters.
Barber was disappointed with his performance, but remained optimistic about his future. He said: “I came here to win a medal and I didn’t do that. But I’m young and I have a lot of time ahead of me. I’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Personal Struggles and Comeback Attempts
Barber’s career took a downward turn after the Rio Olympics, as he faced some personal and professional challenges. In October 2016, he was revealed to have tested positive for cocaine before the Rio Olympics, but was cleared to compete by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, which ruled that he had inadvertently ingested the substance after kissing a woman he met online. Barber admitted that he had made a mistake, and apologized to his family, friends, and fans.
Shawn also struggled with injuries, illnesses, and mental health issues, which affected his performance and motivation. He changed coaches several times, and moved back and forth between Canada and the U.S. He failed to qualify for the 2017 World Championships in London, and finished seventh at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Barber tried to make a comeback in 2019, when he cleared 5.92 meters at a meet in Texas, his best jump since 2016. He also won the silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with a jump of 5.76 meters. He said that he was feeling happier and healthier, and that he was enjoying the sport again.
Shawn had hoped to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he was unable to compete in any official events in 2020 or 2021, due to travel restrictions and health concerns. His last recorded jump was 5.40 meters at a meet in Texas in February 2020.
Reactions and Condolences
Shawn Barber’s death shocked and saddened the pole vault community, as well as the Canadian sports community. Many of his former teammates, competitors, friends, and fans expressed their grief and condolences on social media, and shared their memories and tributes of him.
Alysha Newman, a Canadian women’s pole vaulter and Barber’s friend, posted several photos of them together on Instagram, and wrote: “I wish I could say heaven received another angel but if I’m being honest it was way too soon. Shawn, my teammate, my dear friend and confidant. I’m honored to have been in the same walk of life as you.”
Piotr Lisek, a Polish pole vaulter and the bronze medalist at the 2015 World Championships, also posted pictures of him and Barber on the podium on X, and wrote in Polish: “Shawn was one of the best pole vaulters in the world. He was a great competitor and a good friend. I will miss him very much. Rest in peace, Shawn.”
Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field in Canada, issued a statement on its website, saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Barber, Canadian pole vaulter — 2015 World Champion, Rio 2016 Olympian and Canadian Record Holder. Shawn was a talented and passionate athlete who inspired many with his achievements and his love for the sport. He will be greatly missed by the entire athletics community.”
Barber is survived by his brother David, his mother Ann, and his father George, who also released a statement, saying: “We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved son and brother, Shawn. He was a wonderful person who touched many lives with his kindness, generosity, and spirit. He was a champion in every sense of the word, and we are very proud of everything he accomplished. We thank everyone for their support and respect for our privacy during this difficult time.”
Barber’s funeral arrangements have not been announced yet. A memorial fund has been set up in his name, to support young pole vaulters in Canada. Donations can be made through the website of the Canadian Athletics Foundation.
Shawn Barber was a remarkable pole vaulter, who achieved great heights in his sport and in his life. He was a world champion, an Olympian, and a Canadian record holder, who inspired many with his talent and his courage.
He was also a good-hearted person, who cared for others and enjoyed life. He faced some challenges and hardships, but never gave up on his dreams. He left us too soon, but his legacy will live on. He was a true legend, and we will always remember him.
