Rio 2016: Canada’s Shawn Barber eliminated from pole vault

RIO DE JANEIRO – Shawn Barber’s Olympic debut ended in disappointment Monday with an early exit in the men’s pole vault.

The reigning world champion from Toronto was a favourite for gold, but he struggled mightily in rainy conditions at Rio’s Olympic Stadium, failing on all three attempts at 5.65 metres.

Barber missed badly on his first attempt at 5.65, then barely landed in the mat, falling off the corner, on his second attempt.

He just nudged the bar on his third attempt, ending Canada’s medal streak at nine days.

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That height shouldn’t have been a problem for Barber, who holds the Canadian record of 5.93 metres. Earlier this year he cleared 6.00 metres indoors, which doesn’t count as a record.

Barber also had a scare in qualifying when he needed three tries to get over 5.45.

Heavy rain and strong winds tormented the evening session, sending athletes running for cover for what would turn into a half-hour rain delay.

The delay was closer to an hour for the pole vaulters, as volunteers desperately mopped up the runway with towels.

China’s Xue Changrui was the first vaulter up after the break. The pit was so drenched that he made a splash like he’d landed in a swimming pool. When he jumped to his feet, he shook the water from his hair like a dog does after a swim.

Brazilian Joao Vitor de Oliveira fell a couple of metres from the finish line in the 110-metre hurdles heats, and slid belly-first – think Slip ‘N Slide – across the line.

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The first two hurdles heats went in such a torrential downpour that hurdlers who didn’t qualify by place were given a chance to run again later in the evening.

In the morning session, which was bathed in sunshine, Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton, Ont., finished 16th in the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase. She’s the first Canadian to make an Olympic final in the event.

Barber made his Olympic debut in Rio, but he’s been leaping over high bars for the better part of two decades.

He was born in Kincardine, Ont., but grew up on a New Mexico farm where his George sawed off poles for Shawn and brother Braden. They’d launch themselves over the irrigation ditches. The property also included an old airplane hangar, where George eventually erected a pole vault pit, gymnastics ring and high bar.

Barber, who holds dual citizenship, competed for the first time at age seven, and would go on to obliterate the U.S. high school record.

He’s rewritten the Canadian record several times over, and his world victory last summer in Beijing was the country’s first medal in the event.