Shawn Barber, a former Olympic pole vaulter and gold medalist on the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, died on January 17, 2024, at his residence in Kingwood, Texas at age 29. In keeping with the Related Press. Shawn’s agent, Paul Doyle, confirmed the information the next day, On January 18. No reason for loss of life has been launched, however the information group reported that the athlete had been experiencing unspecified “well being points” and died from “medical problems.”
“Extra than simply an unbelievable athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted individual that all the time put others forward of himself,” Paul mentioned in an announcement. “It’s tragic to lose such an excellent individual at such a younger age.”
Amid the information, right here’s what to know concerning the lifetime of the outstanding younger athlete.
Shawn Was Canadian
Shawn was born in 1994 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, however his father was from Ontario, Canada. Rising up after his dad and mom’ divorce, Shawn hung out in each Toronto and the U.S. Regardless of graduating from highschool in Houston, Texas, the athlete claimed Toronto as his hometown throughout aggressive monitor and discipline occasions.
He additionally competed for Canada all through his profession, saying it was as a result of the nation positioned extra significance on his chosen sport — and since his father, George Barber, competed within the pole vault for Canada on the 1983 World Championships.
Shawn held twin Canadian-American citizenship, and he’s additionally survived by his mom, Ann, and brother, David.
He Had a Distinctive Title
Although within the media he was often called merely Shawn Barber, the proficient pole vaulter was truly born Shawnacy Campbell Barber.
He Was a Champion in Faculty
Shawn attended College of Akron in Ohio, the place he clinched back-to-back NCAA indoor championships in 2014 and 2015 for the pole vault. In 2015, he doubled down on his success with an NCAA outside championship, as nicely. He’d make 2015 a banner yr by rising triumphant with the gold on the Pan-Am Video games that summer season.
Shawn is a Canadian Report Holder
He achieved his profession pinnacle with a prime vault of six meters (19 ft, 8 ¼ inches) on January 15, 2016, in Reno, Nevada. The mark was a file, and it stays the Canadian file to at the present time. Shawnacy competed at the 2016 Summer time Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, and positioned tenth, regardless of adversarial climate circumstances.
Shawn Got here Out in 2017
On April 24, 2017, Shawn took to Fb to publicly come out as homosexual in a since-removed publish. “Homosexual and proud!” he wrote by way of the social media platform, per Outsports. “Thanks to my dad and mom for being such a fantastic help. I proceed to develop as an individual and have a fantastic help group. My dad and mom are my best help and have helped me by rather a lot lately. To my pals, you’re all the time my pals and i like you too!”