FAREWELL GEOFF
Geoff Capes dead at 75: Legendary strongman and Britain’s finest shot putter passes away
His family released a statement following the tragic news
GEOFF CAPES has sadly passed away at the age of 75.
The legendary strongman was considered Britain's finest shot-putter and was one of its biggest celebrities at his peak.
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A family statement 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."
Capes, from Holbeach in Lincolnshire, was adored by millions and became a household name in the Eighties and Nineties.
The 6ft 6ins star, who still holds the British shot put record at 21.68mtrs, was also twice named the World's Strongest Man.
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His first victory came in the World's Strongest Man event in 1983 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the second was two years later in Cascais, Portugal.
During his shot-put career he won gold medals in the European Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
Fans of Capes, who weighed 27st at one point, have flooded social media to pay tribute to the legend.
One posted: "RIP legendary strongman Geoff Capes."
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A second wrote: "Another sporting hero from our youth leaves us. RIP Geoff Capes."
A third commented: "Sad to hear of the death of Geoff Capes. He was a big part of my TV childhood. Thoughts are with his family and friends."
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A fourth said: "So sad to hear the news that Geoff Capes passed away."
He was also a three-time Olympian, competing at Munich in 1972, Montreal in 1976 in Moscow in 1980.
In his debut games, the talented sportsman who also represented his county at basketball, football and cross country, he finished in 20th place.
He was one of the favourites for gold at both of his latter tournaments but finished sixth and fifth.
Former policeman Capes also competed in the Highland Games in Scotland and won the World Heavy Events title in Lagos in 1981.
At the European Championships in Prague in 1978, he was sent home in disgrace.
He had punched a referee and two guards who were holding machine guns after they complained that he was not wearing the correct number for the competition.
After retiring, he went on to coach stars in both athletics and strength athletics.
He helped Adrian Smith take fifth spot in the World's Strongest Man in 1990.
During the Eighties, he was a regular on TV screens in the country, appearing on entertainment shows such as Little and Large, the Sooty Show and the Kenny Everett Television Show.
One of nine children, his shot-put talent was passed down to his family, with daughter Emma a Youth Olympics bronze medalist.
His son, Lewis, has played American Football for the London Monarchs.
Outside of sport, he was a huge lover of budgies.
He bred the birds for more than four decades - getting his first three birds from a man he went to arrest for failing to pay a fine in 1969 when he was in the police.
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He was named the president of the Budgerigar Society in 2008.
He bred his own birds for over three decades and was overjoyed when he was bestowed with the honour.
Geoff Capes' career medals
Strongman career:
- 1983 World's Strongest Man
- 1985 World's Strongest Man
- 1980 Europe's Strongest Man
- 1982 Europe's Strongest Man
- 1984 Europe's Strongest Man
- 1987 World Strongman Challenge winner
- 1987 World Muscle Power Classic winner
Shotput career:
- Gold - 1974 Commonwealth Games
- Gold - 1978 Commonwealth Games
- Gold - 1974 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Gold - 1976 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Silver - 1975 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Silver - 1977 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Silver - 1979 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Bronze - 1978 European Indoor Athletics Championship
- Bronze - 1974 European Athletics Championship
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