He was the 2015 World Champion, who won the gold medal in Beijing. Barber was able to clear 5.72 meters on his second attempt, thus setting a new season best. He came in sixth place at this event, with four other vaulters clearing 5.72 meters in earlier attempts (Jan Kudlica, Kevin Menaldo and Axel Chapelle all cleared it on their first try). Olympic silver medalist Renaud Lavillenie entered the competition at 5.72 meters, which he also cleared on his second attempt (similar to Barber).
In the overall rankings of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League in the men’s pole vault competition, thus far, Barber is in third place with 25 points, and indoor world record holder Renaud Lavillenie is in second place with 31 points. Olympic bronze medalist and American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, who did not compete in the Diamond League track and field meets in Monaco or Rabat, is still in the lead with 32 points (after his four consecutive wins in Shanghai, Eugene, Paris and Lausanne).
The final men’s pole vault event at this year’s IAAF Diamond League will take place on August 24 in Zurich.
Digital Journal chatted with Canadian pole vaulter Shawn Barber.
