World champion pole vaulter Shawnacy Barber dies at 29 from 'medical complications'

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Shawnacy Barber, a world champion pole vaulter, died Wednesday at the age of 29.

Barber died at his home from "medical complications" in Kingwod, Texas.

Barber was a back-to-back NCAA champion in 2014 and 2015 at the University of Akron before winning gold at the latter year's world championships in Beijing representing Canada.

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Canadian Shawnacy Barber competes in the pole vault men's event during Golden Gala Iaaf Diamond League Rome 2018 at Olimpico Stadium in Rome on May 31, 2018. (Matteo Ciambelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

His 6.00-meter jump in 2016 remains a Canadian record - he jumped at 5.91 at the 2015 Texas Relays in college, then an NCAA record.

He participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he finished in 10th.

Barber was born in New Mexico and held dual citizenship in Canada, as his father, who also competed in world championships for the pole vault, was born in Ontario. 

Tributes poured in following the news.

"More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person that always put others ahead of himself," his agent, Paul Doyle, said Thursday. "It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age."

Canadian women's pole vaulter Alysha Newman shared several photos in a heartfelt post on Instagram.

Shawnacy Barber of Canada applauds the crowd in the Men's Pole Vault final during athletics on day eight of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Carrara Stadium on April 12, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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