Holbeach shot-putting legend Geoff Capes has died at the age of 75.
A statement released by the Capes family this evening said: “The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, October 23.
“Britain’s finest shot putter and twice world’s strongest man.”
Capes was born in Holbeach and became one of the most well known faces in the countryfor his sporting prowess.
He got into athletics while attending the then George Farmer school in the town and turned out for Holbeach Athletic Club,
He represented Lincolnshire at a host of sports as a youngster and worked on local farms before joining the police force.
Eventually he decided to concentre on his athletics and the shot put, winning Commonwealth Games hold in both the 1977 and 1978 games as well as golds in the 1974 and 1976 European Indoor Championships and bronze in the 1974 outdoor equipment.
Capes competed in both the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, finishing a best of fifth in the latter.
His personal best was a throw of 26.8 metres in 1980 and he remains the UK’s most capped athlete of all time.
It was in the Strongman Competitions though that Capes really captured the British public’s attention.
He was crowned the World’s Strongest Man in 1983 and 1985, finishing in the top three on a further four occasions.
The Europe’s Strongest title was won in 1990, 1982 and 1984 with second places inbetween those years and in 1987.
Throughout his accolades and successes Capes remained a regular face in and around Holbeach running a leisure shop and becoming a Justice of the Peace in the area.
He continued to coach athletes and his grandsons have been making waves with their own shot putting abilities in recent years.
What are your memories of Geoff? Email them to [email protected]
