THE world of sport is mourning the lack of strongman Geoff Capes.
As soon as identified for being the World’s Strongest Man, the much-loved star has sadly handed away on the age of 75. Right here we check out his unbelievable life.
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Geoffrey Lewis Capes was born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
He was the seventh of 9 kids, with six older half siblings and two youthful full siblings.
Geoff grew up in Holbeach and joined the native athletic membership the place he was coached by Stuart Storey.
He was a gifted sportsperson, representing Lincolnshire in basketball, soccer and cross-country, and was even an honest sprinter posting 23.7 seconds for the 200 metres.
The legendary strongman was thought of Britain’s most interesting shot-putter and was one in all its greatest celebrities at his peak.
Geoff was additionally fascinated with the pure world throughout his childhood, caring for injured birds and animals.
Geoff’s first job
Geoff labored as a coalman and an agricultural labourer after leaving college.
He was capable of load a powerful twenty tons of potatoes in twenty minutes.
He signed up for the police power in 1970, the place he stayed for ten years.
Turn out to be the World’s Strongest Man
Geoff grew to become the World’s Strongest Man in 1983, successful the competitors in Christchurch, New Zealand.
He regained the title in 1985 in Cascais, Portugal, after a disappointing third place end the earlier yr.
General he had SIX high three finishes within the World’s Strongest Man competitions:
Third – 1980 Playboy Membership, Vernon, New Jersey Second – 1981 Playboy Membership, Vernon, New Jersey First – 1983 Christchurch, New ZealandThird – 1984 Mora, SwedenFirst – 1985 Cascais, PortugalSecond – 1986 Good, France
Geoff was identified for his unbelievable hand and arm energy.
He may simply tear London dictionaries in half and will bend rolled metal bars measuring over one inch in diameter and three toes in size.
Athletics hero
Geoff represented England and Nice Britain in subject athletics specialising in shot put.
He represented his nation for 11 years.
Geoff gained two Commonwealth Video games and two Indoor European Championship titles.
His first main competitors was the 1970 Commonwealth Video games in Edinburgh, ending fourth.
On the subsequent two video games in 1974 and 1978 he took gold.
Geoff grew to become the European Indoor Champion twice in 1974 and 1976, successful in silver in 1975, 1977 and 1979, and bronze in 1978.
He picked up a bronze on the outside European Athletics Championships in 1974.
Heading to the Olympics
Regardless of his glittering profession, he was unable to bag himself a medal on the Olympics.
His first Olympic expertise was in 1972 when he competed in Munich however did not cross the qualifying spherical.
Nonetheless, 4 years later he was one of many favourites for the gold medal on the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Geoff was second within the qualifying group however solely positioned sixth within the ultimate.
The longest distance of his profession got here in 1980 when he threw 21.68 metres in Cwmbran, Wales.
It was a brand new Commonwealth and British report.
Geoff went into the 1980 Moscow Olympics with the brand new information and was a favorite for gold.
Nonetheless, he positioned fifth with him admitting his efficiency left him “numbed with disappointment.”
British hero
Geoff was essentially the most capped British male athlete of all time.
Throughout his life he obtained 67 worldwide caps and earned 35 wins, not together with an extra 35 caps for England.
Geoff gained 17 nationwide instances, together with the AAA championship seven instances.
He was additionally the UK champion 3 times, and was voted Britain’s best-ever subject athlete in 1983.
Geoff’s 1980 British report nonetheless stands.
In 2003, Carl Myerscough threw additional however the distance wasn’t ratified.
Unhappy loss of life
On October 23, 2024, it was revealed Geoff had handed away aged 75.
A household assertion mentioned: “The household of Geoffrey Capes want to announce his unhappy passing right this moment, twenty third October.
“Britain’s most interesting shot-putter and twice world’s strongest man.”
Followers rushed to pay tribute with one posting: “RIP legendary strongman Geoff Capes.”
A second wrote: “One other sporting hero from our youth leaves us. RIP Geoff Capes.”
A 3rd commented: “Unhappy to listen to of the loss of life of Geoff Capes. He was an enormous a part of my TV childhood. Ideas are along with his household and pals.”
Geoff Capes’ profession medals
Strongman profession:
1983 World’s Strongest Man1985 World’s Strongest Man1980 Europe’s Strongest Man1982 Europe’s Strongest Man1984 Europe’s Strongest Man1987 World Strongman Problem winner1987 World Muscle Energy Traditional winner
Shotput profession:
Gold – 1974 Commonwealth GamesGold – 1978 Commonwealth GamesGold – 1974 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipGold – 1976 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipSilver – 1975 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipSilver – 1977 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipSilver – 1979 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipBronze – 1978 European Indoor Athletics ChampionshipBronze – 1974 European Athletics Championship
