Geoff Capes dies aged 75: Strongman legend and British shot put great passes away

Geoff Capes - who was twice named the world's strongest man - has died at the age of 75 with his reputation as Britain's greatest shot-putter living on

Geoff Capes has died at the age of 75.

The athlete regarded as Britain's finest shot-putter was also named the world's strongest man on two different occasions.

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."

During his shot put career, he won gold medals in the European Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games. Capes also competed in the Highland Games in Scotland and won the World Heavy Events title in Lagos in 1981.

Following his retirement he went on to coach stars in both athletics and strength athletics. Adrian Smith was among those he helped - he took fifth spot in the World's Strongest Man in 1990.

Capes was one of nine children and went on to become one of the most famous faces in Britain during the 1970s and 1980s. In shot put, he set a national record of 21.68m in 1980 which still stands to this day. Carl Myerscough did surpass his record in 2003, although the performance was not ratified by UK Athletics.

Despite being among the favourites when competing he was never able to deliver an Olympic medal. He later turned his focus to the world of strongman. Capes finished in the top three on six separate occasions, peaking with victory in 1983 and 1985.

His children, Lewis and Emma, were also national shot put champions and the family tradition is currently being continued by grandchildren Donovan and Lawson.

Last year Capes told the Telegraph: “There were stronger people out there – I met a lot of them in the fens of Lincolnshire. But it was about the application of strength. Can you apply it at speed? Can you run with 400 pounds?

“I basically did that on a farm when I was a kid with sacks of potatoes. And I worked things out technically. They would call me ‘numbers’. If I went first, you’d see everyone copying. No matter what it was, I wanted to win.”