British Olympian and World’s Strongest Man Geoff Capes dies, aged 75

24 October 2024, 12:33

Geoff Capes, British Olympian and two-time world's strongest man, has died aged 75.

In a statement, Capes' family said: "The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, 23rd October. Britain's finest shot putter and twice world's strongest man."

At present, no cause of death has been confirmed.

Capes had an incredible career as a shot athlete and strongman competitor, twice winning gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Indoor Championships.

He represented Britain on three separate occasions at the Olympics, coming closest to winning a medal with a fifth-place finish at the Moscow Games in 1980.

During that event, Capes the record for the longest shot put by a British man with a distance of 21.68m.

Born in Lincolnshire on 23rd August 1949, he became a household name after becoming the World's Strongest Man.

Capes secured victories in the competition in 1983 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and in 1985 in Cascais, Portugal.

Eddie Hall, who himself won the title of World's Strongest Man in 2017, paid tribute to Capes saying he was a "true legend of strength".

"Not only was Geoff a two-time World's Strongest Man and a record-breaking shot putter, but he was also a giant in heart and spirit."

"He paved the way for athletes like me, showing that British grit and determination could conquer the world," Hall continued.

"Geoff was an inspiration to so many of us growing up, a man whose incredible achievements and character left a lasting mark on the strength community."

"His legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of strongmen and athletes around the world."Rest easy, big man."

"You'll always be remembered as one of the greatest."

Before he became a full-time athlete, Geoff Capes served as a police constable for Cambridge Constabulary for a decade from 1970 to 1980.

He left to compete in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which the British Government called to boycott due to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan.

In an interview with The Telegraph last year, Capes recalled: " Russia invaded Afghanistan, and Margaret Thatcher banned all the services from going – army and police – because they paid their wages."

"So I resigned from the police just before the Olympics. I lost my career, lost my pension, lost my income. They had total control over you."

After retiring from competition, Geoff - who was also a six-time World Highland Games champion - took up coaching, paying forwards his experience to new generations of athletes.

Capes was 6ft 5.5in tall and weighed 170kg in his physical prime, according to the Geoff Capes Foundation website.

Later in life he lived in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire and had two children - who were also national shot put champions - and four grandchildren.