Former Canadian world pole vault champion Sean Barber has died at the age of 29 due to medical complications.
His agent, Paul Doyle, told Reuters news agency that Barber died at his home in Texas.
Barber captured gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, won the Pan American Games that same year and finished 10th at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
His best jump of 6.00 meters was recorded in January 2016 and remains a Canadian record.
“More than just a great athlete, Sean was a kind-hearted person who always put others before himself,” Doyle said Thursday.
“It is tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”
Barber, who has dual Canadian-American citizenship, upset a team that included current champion Rafael Holzdebe of Germany and then-world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France to win gold in China.
“Our thoughts and prayers are to the family and friends of Sean Barber, Canadian pole vaulter – 2015 World Champion, 2016 Rio Olympian and Canadian record holder,” Athletics Canada posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Polish pole vaulter Piotr Lesek, silver medalist at the 2017 World Championships in London, added: “One of the best pole vaulters in the world, Sean Barber, passed away today.
“We had the opportunity to host him on Polish soil several times, and he showed his heart several times with incredible cheerfulness.”
