Who was strongman Geoff Capes and when did he become the world’s strongest man?

THE world of sport is mourning the loss of strongman Geoff Capes.

Once known for being the World’s Strongest Man, the much-loved star has sadly passed away at the age of 75. Here we take a look at his incredible life.

Geoffrey Lewis Capes was born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire.

He was the seventh of nine children, with six older half siblings and two younger full siblings.

Geoff grew up in Holbeach and joined the local athletic club where he was coached by Stuart Storey.

He was a gifted sportsperson, representing Lincolnshire in basketball, football and cross-country, and was even a decent sprinter posting 23.7 seconds for the 200 metres.

The legendary strongman was considered Britain’s finest shot-putter and was one of its biggest celebrities at his peak.

Geoff was also fascinated with the natural world during his childhood, caring for injured birds and animals.

Geoff’s first job

Geoff worked as a coalman and an agricultural labourer after leaving school.

He was able to load an impressive twenty tons of potatoes in twenty minutes.

Geoff signed up for the police force in 1970, where he stayed for ten years.

Become the World’s Strongest Man

Geoff became the World’s Strongest Man in 1983, winning the competition in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He regained the title in 1985 in Cascais, Portugal, after a disappointing third place finish the previous year.

Overall he had SIX top three finishes in the World’s Strongest Man competitions:

• Third – 1980 Playboy Club, Vernon, New Jersey
• Second – 1981 Playboy Club, Vernon, New Jersey
• First – 1983 Christchurch, New Zealand
• Third – 1984 Mora, Sweden
• First – 1985 Cascais, Portugal
• Second – 1986 Nice, France

Geoff was known for his incredible hand and arm strength.

He could easily tear London dictionaries in half and could bend rolled steel bars measuring over one inch in diameter and three feet in length.

Athletics hero

Geoff represented England and Great Britain in field athletics specialising in shot put.

He represented his country for 11 years.

Geoff won two Commonwealth Games and two Indoor European Championship titles.

His first major competition was the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, finishing fourth.

At the next two games in 1974 and 1978 he took gold.

Geoff became the European Indoor Champion twice in 1974 and 1976, winning in silver in 1975, 1977 and 1979, and bronze in 1978.

He picked up a bronze at the outdoor European Athletics Championships in 1974.

Heading to the Olympics

Despite his glittering career, he was unable to bag himself a medal at the Olympics.

His first Olympic experience was in 1972 when he competed in Munich but didn’t pass the qualifying round.

However, four years later he was one of the favourites for the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Geoff was second in the qualifying group but only placed sixth in the final.

The longest distance of his career came in 1980 when he threw 21.68 metres in Cwmbran, Wales.

It was a new Commonwealth and British record.

Geoff went into the 1980 Moscow Olympics with the new records and was a favourite for gold.

However, he placed fifth with him admitting his performance left him “numbed with disappointment.”

British hero

Geoff was the most capped British male athlete of all time.

During his life he received 67 international caps and earned 35 wins, not including a further 35 caps for England.

Geoff won 17 national times, including the AAA championship seven times.

He was also the UK champion three times, and was voted Britain’s best-ever field athlete in 1983.

Geoff’s 1980 British record still stands.

In 2003, Carl Myerscough threw further but the distance wasn’t ratified.

Sad death

On October 23, 2024, it was revealed Geoff had passed away aged 75.

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.”

Fans rushed to pay tribute with one posting: “RIP legendary strongman Geoff Capes.”

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.”

No other details surrounding Geoff’s death have been released by his family.