Shawn Barber Date of birth1994-05-27Birthplace Las Cruces (United States)Height191 cmWeight80.0 kgWorld Championships (1 medal: 1 gold)Pole vault: 1st (2015)Pan American Games (1 medal: 1 gold)Pole vault: 1st (2015)Pole vaults rising starAfter being crowned 2015 pole vault world champion in Beijing (5.90m), Shawn Barber has now set his sights on Olympic gold in Rio, where he will be looking to upset the favourite, French world record holder Renaud Lavillenie.The 22-year-old is one of Canadas top medal hopes for the Games. Born in the United States, he followed in the footsteps of his father George, himself a talented pole vaulter. In 2014, he won bronze at the Commonwealth Games, before gold medals at the Pan American Games and the worlds in 2015.Though he can often be seen encouraging his rivals, Barber remains a fierce competitor. He kicked off his Olympic year by clearing 6.00m (a personal best) in January. 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Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Yankees Jerseys China . PAUL, Minn. LAS VEGAS -- Gabriel Flores Jr., a 16-year-old junior lightweight with a strong amateur background and gripping backstory, will turn pro after signing a promotional contract with Top Rank, chairman Bob Arum announced on Wednesday.But because Flores, of Stockton, California, is so young, he cannot fight professionally in the United States yet. He wont have his first bout until at least May, when he turns 17 and can apply for a special permit in various states, including Nevada and California.Why did we sign a 16?-year-old -- I think is because the younger we sign fighters the longer the guys in Top Rank feel theyll have me around, the 84-year-old Arum joked at the final news conference for the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas undercard at the Wynn resort.I think hes the youngest fighter Top Rank has ever signed. Hes a tremendous prospect, ranked No. 1 in his weight division in the amateur ranks. He has great natural skills and ability. Our matchmakers believe that will make him a star.Flores, a member of the U.S. junior national team in 2015 and 2016, comes into the pro ranks having gone 91-7 as an amateur and having won the 2016 U.S. junior national championship at 138 pounds. In 2015, he claimed a silver medal at the world junior championships at 125 pounds and a gold medal in the same division at the U.S. junior national championships.Flores will enter the pro ranks having endured much in his life.I know a lot of people have high expectations of me and I plan on exceeding all of them, said Flores, who started boxing at age 7. It wasnt easy getting to this point. I lost my mother at the age of 12. It was gang-violence-related. It took my mother away from me. She got shot in the back. They said if she would have made it she would have been paralyzed. She didnt make it, but right now, today, shes looking down on me and shes smiling right now.Flores mother, Juanita Maldonado, was shot while attending a childs birthday party in Stockton on March 17, 2013.dddddddddddd She died the following day at age 35. Four others were also shot, reportedly by three men, though no arrests have been made.I could have just gave up on my dreams but giving up on my dreams would have been giving up on my mother, Flores said. Im just grateful to be in this position and want to make her proud.Flores said he wants to be a role model to kids in Stockton, a city gripped by gang violence.My mom wasnt the only one I lost in my family, said Flores, one of six children. I lost my uncle to gang violence. Thats why I look forward to fighting in my hometown so I can promote anti-gang-violence. I want the kids to know right from wrong and the consequences. I want to stop the violence in the city I was born in and the city I love.Flores is trained and managed by his father, Gabriel Flores Sr., whose own involvement in gangs landed him in prison for a stretch. He turned his back on gang life years ago and also trains Top Rank junior lightweight prospect Andy Vences (16-0, 10 KOs). Flores adviser is Rick Mirigian, who also handles blue-chip junior welterweight prospect and 2012 U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez.Flores has ring experience sparring with quality fighters, including featherweight world titleholder Oscar Valdez and junior featherweight contender Jessie Magdaleno, both of whom have matches on the Pacquiao-Vargas undercard.Id say Im a pure boxer. I like to keep my distance and use my jab and my straight punches, but if it comes down to it, I can fight on the inside, Flores said. I can do anything it takes to win. My favorite boxer of all time is Roy Jones Jr. Sometimes Ill do a little showboating like he does, and sometimes I do that little jump-in hook. ' ' '