Shawn Barber, a world champion in pole vaulting, has passed away at the age of 29.
According to his Agent, Paul Doyle, as reported by the Associated Press, Barber passed away at his residence in Kingwood, Texas, on Wednesday. While the cause of his death was not disclosed, it was mentioned that Barber had been dealing with certain health issues.
The news was confirmed by his management agency in an Instagram post on Thursday, which stated, “A friend that will always be remembered. Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter Shawn Barber has passed away. 🕊️.”
Doyle Management expressed deep sorrow and highlighted some of his achievements, notably his victory in the pole vault world championship in 2015. This win marked Canada’s inaugural world pole vault medal and also the nation’s first athletics world title in 12 years, as per CTV News.
Dan Mullan/Getty
Barber was also a student-athlete at the University of Akron with multiple accolades under his belt, including the titles of 2014 and 2015 NCAA Indoor Pole Vault Champion and 2015 NCAA Outdoor Pole Vault Champion.
He held the title of 2015 Pan American Games Gold Medalist and reached the finals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Barber’s personal best vault of six meters, achieved on Jan. 15, 2016, in Reno, Nevada, still stands as the Canadian record, as reported by the Associated Press.
As per CTV News, Barber was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and held dual Canadian-American citizenship. His father, George, was born in Ontario, Canada, and competed for Canada in the pole vault at the 1983 world championships.
Athletics Canada, the national sport governing body for track and field, paid tribute to his achievements on X, previously known as Twitter, by stating, “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.”
Christian Petersen/Getty
According to Doyle, he told the Associated Press, “More than just a remarkable athlete, Shawn was a genuinely kind person who always prioritized others. It’s truly tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”
Stay informed — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest from PEOPLE, ranging from celebrity news to captivating human interest stories.
Barber is survived by his father, mother Ann, and brother, David, as per the Associated Press.
