Early Life and Career
Geoffrey Lewis Capes(Geoff Capes), born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, was the seventh of nine children. After completing his education, Capes represented his county in basketball, football, and cross country. He worked as a coalman and agricultural laborer before following in the footsteps of his grandfather, uncle, and older brothers by joining the police force, where he served for a decade
Shot Put Career
Capes dedicated 11 years to the Great Britain team, accumulating the highest number of athletics caps in the nation’s history. He represented England and Great Britain in field athletics, specializing in the shot put. Capes was:
- Twice Commonwealth champion (1974 and 1978)
- Twice European indoor champion (1974 and 1976)
- Seven-time winner of the AAA championship
- Three-time UK champion
He competed at three Olympic Games, finishing sixth in Montreal (1976) and fifth in Moscow (1980). At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Capes set a British record of 21.68 meters (71 ft 2 in), which stood for 44 years until 2003.
Strongman Career
Standing at 6 ft 5 in (197 cm) tall and weighing 170 kg (375 lbs) at his peak, Capes was a force to be reckoned with in the world of strength athletics5. He won the World’s Strongest Man title twice, in 1983 and 1985. Capes also achieved numerous other titles, including:
- Europe’s Strongest Man (1980, 1982, 1984)
- Britain’s Strongest Man (1979, 1981, 1983)
- World Muscle Power Classic (1987, though some sources suggest only one win)
Capes was known for his incredible feats of strength, such as tearing phone books and bending steel bars with ease. In 1978, he threw a standard 2.72 kg (6 lb) building brick a staggering 44.54 meters (146 ft 1 in), a Guinness World Record that remains unbroken.
Highland Games
Capes was a hugely popular and respected figure in the Highland Games, where he was dubbed “Geoff Dubh Laidir” (Black Strong Geoff). He won the World Heavy Events title six times (1981-1987), making him the most successful competitor in terms of titles. Capes set world records in many disciplines, including the 56 lb weight over the bar and brick lifting.
Budgerigar Breeding
Aside from his athletic achievements, Capes was a dedicated budgerigar enthusiast and world-class breeder. In 2008, he was appointed president of the Budgerigar Society, and his expertise saw him regularly featured in specialist publications.
Legacy and Death
Geoff Capes left an indelible mark on British sport and popular culture. He was voted Britain’s best-ever field athlete in 1983 and was inducted into the World’s Strongest Man Hall of Fame and the England Athletics Hall of Fame35. After retiring from competitive sport, Capes remained involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter, and coach.On October 23, 2024, Geoff Capes passed away at the age of 75. His family released a statement announcing his death, remembering him as “Britain’s finest shot putter and twice World’s Strongest Man”. Capes is survived by his two children, who were also national shot put champions, and four grandchildren. Geoff Capes will be remembered as a true legend, an inspiration to athletes and strength enthusiasts worldwide, and a giant in both stature and spirit. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and strongmen.