Former world pole vault champion Shawn Barber of Canada has died at age 29 at his house in Texas, his agent introduced on Thursday. Barber gained the 2015 world title at Beijing by clearing 5.90 meters and captured his different main worldwide crown on home-nation soil in Toronto on the 2015 Pan American Games. Paul Doyle, Barber’s agent, introduced his passing on an Instagram posting. No explanation for demise was revealed.

“A friend that will never be forgotten. Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter Shawn Barber has passed away,” stated the message on Doyle Management’s Instagram web 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.

#Throwback to Shawn Barber’s 5.90m clearance on the 2015 World Championships to safe him the gold medal

Once a champion, at all times a champion. RIP pic.twitter.com/J8Qem6gOOP

— Owen M (@_OwenM_) January 18, 2024

“Shawn was also an Olympic finalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. He will be greatly missed.”

Our ideas and prayers to the household and buddies of Shawn Barber, Canadian Pole Vaulter – 2015 World Champion, Rio 2016 Olympian and Canadian Record Holder. pic.twitter.com/Mn7DcVKgqy

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) January 18, 2024

Barber set the Canadian indoor report of 6.00 in 2016 on the Pole Vault Summit and cleared 5.93 in July 2015 to set a Canadian outside mark.

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

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Barber completed tenth, clearing 5.50m.