Canadian sport
is mourning the death of Shawn Barber
, a former world pole vault champion who died at age 29 at his home in Texas.
It was announced by his agent, Paul Doyle, on his Instagram social network account without offering details about the death of Barber, also
a finalist in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
However, the international press published that Barber died from medical complications associated with a health problem.
"A friend we will never forget. Shawn Barber has died," reads the message from the athlete's representative, who still holds the Canadian record indoors with 6 meters and outdoors with 5.93 meters.
Barber was crowned world champion in the competition held in 2015 in Beijing, where at only 21 years old he surpassed 5.90 meters after having previously won the Pan American Games held in Toronto.
Canadian Shawn Barber died at age 29.
Photo: AFP.
"More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person who
always put others before himself.
It's tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age," his agent Paul Doyle told The Associated Press for report the news.
Barber also won a Diamond League in Zurich, Switzerland in 2015, the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada the same year, and five NCAA national championships between 2013 and 2018.