Gay World Mourns The Loss Of Two Sporting Heroes After Deaths Of Shawn Barber And Stephen Laybutt
World champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber has succumbed to medical complications on Wednesday, January 17. The tragic news follows the discovery of former Socceroo player Stephen Laybutt on Saturday, January 13.
Both athletes were known for being among the few in their respective fields to come out as gay.
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Shawn Barber had been experiencing poor health for some time before it was reported that he died due to medical complications at the age of 29. Shawn was beloved by his teammates who have called him “good-hearted” and “well-liked”.
According to Advocate, Shawn won three NCAA championships while at university, then competed internationally. He won the International Amateur Athletic Federation (now World Athletics) championship in pole vaulting in Beijing in 2015. He won a gold medal at the Pan American Games that year as well, and he won silver and bronze at the Commonwealth Games over the course of his career. He competed for Canada in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and placed 10th. He holds the Canadian record for the longest vault.
Stephen Laybutt was a former professional soccer player who came out in 2021 after retiring. On Saturday, January 13, Laybutt was reported missing by friends after he was unable to be contacted. In the late evening of Sunday, his body was discovered by a search party in bushland near Cabarita Beach.
Laybutt played 15 matches for the Socceroos before he moved on to Newcastle Jets in the A-League. Upon retiring, Laybutt worked in the rehab unit at St Vincent’s Private Hospital. According to Sydney Morning Herald, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster paid tribute to his old teammate after learning of his shock passing.
“Stephen was a gentle, kind soul which was not always the norm in professional football and stood out for his thoughtful nature,” Foster said. “An immensely talented player, his loss will be felt deeply by all his former colleagues.”
