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WATCH: Pole vaulter Shawnacy Barber stepped to the top of the medal podium at the World Track and Field championships in Beijing, taking Canada’s first gold medal at the championships in 10 years. Mike Armstrong reports.

BEIJING – Canada’s Shawnacy Barber has won a gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the world track and field championships.

The 21-year-old was the lone competitor to clear 5.90 metres on his first attempt.

Defending champion Raphael Holzdeppe captured silver.

No. 1-ranked Renaud Lavillenie of France shared the bronze with Pawel Wojciechowski and Piotr Lisek, both of Poland.

The six-foot-two Barber won gold at last month’s Pan American Games.

Barber grew up in New Mexico but is eligible to compete for Canada through his father, who is a former top pole vaulter.

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The current Canadian record-holder, Barber started the sport at the age of four.

The medal is Canada’s fourth of the competition and the country’s first ever in pole vault.