MONTREAL – Former world pole vault champion Shawn Barber of Canada has died at age 29 at his home in Texas, his agent announced the sad news on Jan 18.

The Canadian won the 2015 world title in Beijing by clearing 5.90 metres and captured his other major international crown on home soil in Toronto at the 2015 Pan American Games.

Paul Doyle, Barber’s agent, announced his death in an Instagram post. No cause was revealed, although there were also reports that said he died of “medical complications”.

“A friend that will never be forgotten. Canadian Olympic pole vaulter Shawn Barber has passed away,” said the message on Doyle Management’s Instagram page.

“He is currently the Canadian record holder with his personal best of 6.00m and was the 2015 world champion in the pole vault. Shawn was also an Olympic finalist at the 2016 Rio Games.

“More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person that always put others ahead of himself. It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age. He will be greatly missed.”

Barber set the Canadian indoor record of 6m in 2016 at the Pole Vault Summit and cleared 5.93m in July 2015 to set a Canadian outdoor mark.

Barber, who held dual US and Canadian citizenship, also took silver at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after claiming a bronze in 2014 at Glasgow.

At the Rio Olympics, he finished 10th, clearing 5.50m.

Barber first competed in pole vault at the age of seven, shattering the US high school record by more than a foot before winning back-to-back NCAA indoor titles for the University of Akron, Ohio in 2014 and 2015, and then the 2015 NCAA outdoor title.

His father George, who was his coach for most of his life, was born in Kincardine, north-west of Toronto. When he was first named to a Canadian team, he said that he chose to compete for Canada to follow in his dad’s footsteps.

“Our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Shawn Barber, Canadian pole vaulter – 2015 world champion, Rio 2016 Olympian and Canadian record holder,” Athletics Canada posted on X.

Barber is survived by his father, mother Ann, and brother David. AFP, REUTERS