Editor Note: This article is a tribute to the late Shawn Barber. On October 1st 2024 in Akron Ohio, Barber was inducted posthumously into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

Shawn Barber, who died January 17th, 2024 in his Kingwood, Texas home of “medical complications” at the way-too-young age of 29, will be remembered as a quiet, but driven, athlete who was revered by all who knew him. A world-class pole vaulter, Barber performed at his best when competing at the global championship competitions when everything was on the line.

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

Barber, who arrived in Akron having earlier set the USA national high school pole vault record, was quickly at ease training under the watchful eye of University of Akron Head Coach Dennis Mitchell – a decorated collegiate vaulter in his own right.

I first met Shawn in 2013 as he was getting settled in at the U of A. Shawn was cautious as we engaged in a wide-ranging conversation. As our discussion neared the end, I asked Shawn a coy question: “Why in the world would you and other vaulters shun the use of a helmet when you engage in planting a pole, flipping completely upside-down, vaulting 19+ feet in the air high above a hard-surface runway?” Suddenly, Shawn burst into a smile and in a matter-of-fact way stated, “Because then we wouldn’t be fearless!”

At the University of Akron Barber developed quickly, becoming the first male individual national champion in Zips history when he won the 2014 NCAA Div. I indoor championship. To win it, he vaulted a Canadian-record 18’10½” to defeat 2013 NCAA Div. I outdoor champion and future Olympian Sam Kendricks. Barber went on to win both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Div. I in 2015 – a pole vault hat-trick en route to becoming a finalist for both the Bowerman and Sullivan Awards.

Clearly the pinnacle of Barber’s career took place in the 2015 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Bejing. While I had the good fortune to be present at many of Shawn’s pole vault victories, the Final of the Men’s Pole Vault in Bejing World Championships was without question the most riveting. As the Final got underway, Barber racked up a clean card, clearing every bar on his first vault through 19’4¼”. Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe, the defending World Champion, also cleared 19’4¼” but had three earlier misses at lower attempts. Barber, in the lead, and Holzdeppe, in the silver medal position, were the only remaining competitors left to battle for the gold as the bar went up to 6.00m/19’8¼” – a coveted height that has only been cleared by 26 vaulters. Both missed on their first two jumps. On his final attempt at 6.00 meters, Shawn missed again, leaving the defending champion with one final attempt that could give him the gold. Holzdeppe missed – and Barber captured the World Championship gold medal.

Those who knew Shawn Barber were in awe of him: “Extremely smart, polite, nice, and extremely well-spoken,” reflected Dennis Mitchell, former University of Akron head coach track and field and cross-country coach. “Shawn was a guy that had zero enemies; everybody liked him.” Coach Mitchell also knew how the 2015 Beijing world champion was all business when he stepped on the pole vault runway. “Athletically, he was amazing,” stated Mitchell flatly. “His ability, his spatial awareness, he had a great mind for the event. He always understood so much about what he was doing. The guy was a superstar.”

And we all miss him. / Dave Hunter /