Geoff Capes, the British shot put record holder and two-time world’s strongest man, passed away at the age of 75. Capes set the record for the longest shot put by a British man with a distance of 21.68m in 1980. The family of the late athlete announced his death in a statement, stating that Capes was “Britain’s finest shot putter and twice world’s strongest man.” The statement did not provide any details regarding Capes’ cause of death.
Capes was a renowned athlete, winning twice in the shot put at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Indoor Championships. He was a three-time Olympian and was closest to a medal with his fifth-place finish at the 1980 games held in Moscow. Capes was also a six-time champion at the World Highland Games. His victories in the World’s Strongest Man event, in 1983 in Christchurch, New Zealand and 1985 in Cascais, Portugal, made him a household name.
After retiring from the sport, Capes became a coach and helped many aspiring athletes. He also appeared on two reality television shows. Capes was a budgerigar enthusiast, and in 2008, he became a president of the Budgerigar Society. Capes lived in the Lincolnshire village of Stoke Rochford and had two children as well as grandchildren.
The British Athletics and Team GB expressed their condolences to Capes’ family and friends. World Athletics president Lord Coe said that Capes’ passing is a sad moment for many in both British and global athletics. He also said that Capes was a great figure in British athletics and helped bring the crowds back to the sport.
Fellow World’s Strongest Man winner Eddie Hall paid tribute to Capes, saying that he was a “true legend of strength” who paved the way for future athletes like himself. Hall stated that Capes’ legacy would continue to inspire the next generation of strongmen and athletes worldwide. British shot put champion Scott Lincoln said that Capes put the sport “on the map in the UK” and that he was an icon, hero, legend, role model, friend, and an all-round good guy who would be missed by many in the athletics community
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