Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber was a Canadian pole vaulter who won his event in both the World Championships and Pam American Games in 2015.
- Died: January 17, 2024 (Who else died on January 17?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Kingwood, Texas, of medical complications at the age of 29.
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Shawn Barber’s legacy
Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Barber held dual Canadian-American citizenship due to his parents’ nationalities, and he grew up in both countries. He said he considered Toronto his hometown, and he chose to compete for Canada in his athletic career. That career began during his college years at the University of Akron, winning the NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015. While in college, he first competed in the World Championships in 2013, though he didn’t qualify for the final. That same year, Barber won gold at the Pan American Junior Championships.
After placing third in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Barber had his best year in 2015, when he took home gold at the World Championships and Pam American Games. His 2015 world championship was Canada’s first win at those games since 2003. Another gold medal for Barber came in 2016 in the World Indoor Tour. That same year, he competed in the Summer Olympics, and he set a record for Canada and achieved his personal best, with a vault of six meters (19 feet, 8-3/4 inches).
Notable quote
“Everybody wants to be the best, and it just depends on who puts the time and effort into it, and who comes out on top at the end of the day. It’s a very pure sport and it’s very easy to measure. It takes a little bit of craziness sometimes to do it, and not everybody can handle it.” —from a 2017 interview for Digital Journal
Tributes to Shawn Barber
Full obituary: NBC News
