Geoff Capes: World’s strongest man and British shot put record holder Capes dies aged 75

Geoff Capes, who held the British record for shot put and was a two-time winner of the title 'World's Strongest Man,' has passed away at the age of 75.

Capes made history in 1980 by achieving the longest shot put throw ever recorded by a British athlete, reaching a distance of 21.68 meters.

In a recent announcement, the family of Geoffrey Capes expressed their sorrow over his passing, which occurred on October 23rd.

"The top shot put athlete in Britain and a two-time winner of the title for the world's strongest man."

Capes enjoyed a remarkable career, securing gold medals in the shot put at the Commonwealth Games and the European Indoor Championships on two occasions.

He competed in the Olympics three times and nearly earned a medal, finishing fifth at the 1980 Games in Moscow.

Capes, originally from Lincolnshire, also achieved the title of champion six times at the World Highland Games.

He became widely recognized after winning the esteemed World's Strongest Man competition twice, first in 1983 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and again in 1985 in Cascais, Portugal.

Eddie Hall, the 2017 World's Strongest Man champion, honored Capes by calling him a "genuine icon of strength."

"Geoff wasn't just a two-time World's Strongest Man and a record-breaking shot put athlete; he was also remarkable in character and kindness," Hall remarked.

"He laid the groundwork for athletes like myself, demonstrating that British resilience and perseverance could triumph on a global scale."

Geoff was a source of motivation for many as we were growing up. His remarkable accomplishments and strong character had a significant impact on the strength community that will be remembered for years to come.

His impact will keep motivating future generations of strongmen and athletes globally.

"Take comfort, my friend. You will forever be honored as one of the greatest."

As stated on the Geoff Capes Foundation website, Capes stood at 6 feet 5.5 inches tall and weighed 170 kilograms during his peak physical condition.

After retiring from competitive sports, Capes became a coach, mentoring numerous up-and-coming athletes. He also made appearances on two reality TV programs.

Carl Myerscough from Britain managed to throw further than the shot put record set by Capes, achieving a distance of 21.92 meters in Sacramento, USA. However, this achievement from 2003 was not officially recognized.

In his later years, Capes resided in the village of Stoke Rochford in Lincolnshire. He had two children and also enjoyed the company of his grandchildren.

Capes, a former police officer from Cambridgeshire, was well-known for his passion for budgerigars. In 2008, he dedicated a year to leading the Budgerigar Society as its president.

In a statement released after the announcement of his passing, British Athletics expressed its sorrow, saying, "We are deeply saddened to learn about the death of former British shot putter, Geoff Capes."

"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time."

Team GB expressed their profound sorrow over Capes' death.

Tessa Sanderson, who won the Olympic javelin gold medal in 1984, described Capes as a "wonderful individual and an outstanding athlete." Meanwhile, Scott Lincoln, the current British shot put champion, noted that Capes was the one who truly elevated the sport’s profile in the UK.

On Instagram, he expressed: "An icon, a hero, a legend, a role model, a friend, and an all-around amazing person. He will be deeply missed, not just by me, but by countless people in the athletics community."

World Athletics president Lord Coe expressed, "The news of Geoff's death is a sorrowful moment for countless individuals in British and international athletics."

He was a prominent presence in British athletics, attracting fans back to our sport. With a strong sense of independence and a competitive spirit, he was also deeply dedicated to the teams he led with great honor.