Geoffrey Lewis Capes, a renowned British athlete known for his achievements in both shot put and strongman competitions, was allegedly separated from his wife, Gill. Despite the separation, Capes continued to be involved in his children’s lives and supported them in their athletic pursuits.
As the seventh of nine children, Geoff Capes was born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England.
He represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games and won two Commonwealth gold medals in the shot put.
Tragically, he passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 75, as per the statement shared by Geoff’s family.
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.
However, the cause of his demise has not been publicly disclosed.
Geoff Capes’ Kids Inherited His Passion For Athletics
Geoff Capes was married to Gill, with whom he had two children: Emma Capes and Lewis Capes. As per some sources, he separated from his wife in 1982.
His daughter, Emma, is a bronze medalist in the Youth Olympics and was the shot put champion in English School.
Likewise, his son, Lewis, played American football for the London Monarchs.
Both of his children followed in his footsteps and became national shot put champions.
Geoff Capes also has four grandchildren. Moreover, his grandchildren Donovan and Lawson carry on with the family tradition.
Geoff Capes’s Journey From Humble Beginnings To Record-Breaking Athlete
His family was working-class, and he often had to work manual jobs, such as coalman and agricultural laborer, to support his athletic ambitions.
Despite these challenges, Capes showed early signs of athletic excellence. By the age of 15, he had already loaded 20 tons of potatoes onto a lorry in 20 minutes.
He left school at 14 and later joined the police force to help fund his sports career.
Capes’ career achievements are remarkable. He represented Great Britain in the shot put at three Olympic Games (1972, 1976, and 1980) and won two Commonwealth gold medals.
He also set the British shot put record of 21.68 meters, which stood for 17 years.
Transitioning to strongman competitions, Capes won twice the World’s Strongest Man title and numerous others, including Europe’s Strongest Man and Britain’s Strongest Man.
His strong accomplishments, such as tearing phone books and bending steel bars, made him a familiar name in Britain.
Likewise, Capes continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter, and coach even after retiring from competition.
Sad news today that British Strongman Geoff Capes has died aged 75, met him many years ago in my nightclub while supporting local athletes, he was a very nice man, my deepest sympathy to his family at this heartbreaking time. pic.twitter.com/oofhuPlIow
— Jim Mills (@millsjim44) October 23, 2024
Sadly, his passing caused the sports community to grieve. Tributes poured in from the athletic community, highlighting his contributions to sports.
Eddie Hall, a former World’s Strongest Man winner, described Capes as a true legend of strength with a giant heart and spirit.
Olympic javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson remembered him as a great person and a giant of an athlete.
Another Olympic champion, Fatima Whitbread, praised Capes for his support and inspiration during her early career, calling him one of a kind.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Capes was the 7th child of Eileen Capes among his eight other siblings.
- He won the title of World’s Strongest Man twice, in 1983 and 1985.
- He was a famous Budgerigar breeder and served as president of the Budgerigar Society.
