Geoff Capes: World’s strongest man and British shot put record holder Capes dies aged 75

Based on the Geoff Capes Basis web site, Capes was 6ft 5.5in tall and weighed 170kg in his bodily prime.

Following his retirement from competitors Capes took up teaching and helped many aspiring athletes, in addition to showing on two actuality tv reveals.

Britain’s Carl Myerscough threw longer than Capes’ shot put document with a distance of 21.92m in Sacramento, United States, however that 2003 consequence was not ratified.

In later life, Capes lived within the Lincolnshire village of Stoke Rochford. He had two kids in addition to grandchildren.

Capes served as a policeman for 10 years in Cambridgeshire, incomes £9.50 every week.

He resigned earlier than the 1980 Olympics in Moscow after “political stress” to boycott the Video games following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

“Russia invaded Afghanistan, and Margaret Thatcher banned all of the providers from going – military and police – as a result of they paid their wages,” Capes advised the advised the Telegraph, exterior final 12 months.

“So I resigned from the police simply earlier than the Olympics. I misplaced my profession, misplaced my pension, misplaced my earnings. They’d complete management over you.”

Capes was famously a budgerigar fanatic and in 2008 he served a 12 months as president of the Budgerigar Society.

In an announcement following information of his demise, British Athletics mentioned: “British Athletics are saddened to listen to the information of former British shot putter, Geoff Capes’ passing.

“Our condolences exit to his household and mates presently.”

Staff GB mentioned it’s “deeply saddened” by Capes’ passing.

Tessa Sanderson, the Olympic javelin champion in 1984, mentioned Capes was a “nice individual and a large of an athlete”, whereas reigning British shot put champion Scott Lincoln mentioned he was the person who put the game “on the map within the UK”.

He added on Instagram: “An icon, hero, legend, function mannequin, good friend and all spherical good man. Will probably be sorely missed by not solely me however so many across the athletics neighborhood.”

World Athletics president Lord Coe mentioned: “Geoff’s passing is a tragic second for therefore many people in each British and international athletics.

“He was an enormous determine in British athletics and introduced the crowds again to our sport. Fiercely impartial, aggressive, however all the time protecting of the groups that he captained with distinction.”