Geoff Capes, the two-time world’s strongest man and – even in 2024 – the British shot put record holder, has died aged 75.
A brief family statement on Wednesday afternoon said: “The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, October 23.
“Britain’s finest shot-putter and twice world’s strongest man.”
Capes had competed for Great Britain in the shot put at three successive Olympic Games – as well as winning two Commonwealth titles in the sport – and was seen as one of the great strongman athletes of his generation.
Capes, seen here establishing a new world record in truck-pulling at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre in London in 1983
PA
Born in Lincolnshire in 1949, Capes grew up in the small town of Holbeach – where he developed a multi-disciplinary passion for sport, going on to represent the county in football, basketball and cross-country.
After leaving the former George Farmer County Secondary Modern School, Capes then charted a career as a coalman and an agricultural labourer – and won fame in the latter role for being able to load 20 tons of potatoes in as many minutes.
He then worked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary for a decade, despite representing his country on the world stage at the same time, before leaving the role to compete in the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the face of the UK’s calls for a boycott.
Through his feats, Capes soon became one of the most famous sportsmen in the country throughout the 1970s and 80s.
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Even in 2024, Capes remained the British shot put record holder
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But it wasn’t just the shot put where Capes’s exceptional strength and skill shone through.
After turning his attention to contesting the World’s Strongest Man title, he finished in the top three on six separate occasions, winning the whole competition in 1983 and 1985.
Capes also came out victorious in the World Highland Games on no fewer than six occasions.
Then, in retirement, he turned to teaching, becoming a coach and mentor to swathes of successful shot putters.
His children, Lewis and Emma, were also national shot put champions – while his grandchildren Donovan and Lawson are still upholding the family tradition to this day.
Capes, seen here arm-wrestling American shot putter Al Feuerbach in 1974
PA
Speaking to The Telegraph last year, Capes said: “There were stronger people out there… I met a lot of them in the fens of Lincolnshire.
“But it was about the application of strength. Can you apply it at speed? Can you run with 400 pounds?
“I basically did that on a farm when I was a kid with sacks of potatoes. And I worked things out technically. They would call me ‘numbers’.
“If I went first, you’d see everyone copying. No matter what it was, I wanted to win!”