Capes was born in 1949 in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, the seventh of 9 youngsters, and to be a youngster became a member of Holbeach Athletic Club, the place he was coached by Olympic hurdler Stuart Storey, and represented his county in basketball, soccer and cross-nation.
A family statement mentioned: "The relatives of Geoffrey Capes would want to announce his unhappy passing these days, twenty third Oct.
He was also one of the most decorated, capped and well known athletes in British historical past, winning seventeen national titles and 9 main championship medals, including two Commonwealth and two European indoor golds.
Capes rose to Intercontinental prominence in shot place, symbolizing England on the whole world phase and finally cementing his position as among the list of nation’s top throwers.
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“A real domestic title. Memories of Geoff Capes are flooding back again… a breeder of globe winner budgerigars. Why Geoff? He informed me they are comforting. Huge potent Guys as well as their small mates.”
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In the days of genuinely beginner shot-Placing, Capes was a towering figure in every single regard. Standing at a shade below 6ft 6in and weighing something amongst 22 and 25 stone, he dominated his event in Britain and Europe through the seventies, profitable medals at every single major competition he entered excluding the Olympic Game titles.
American strongman Monthly bill Kazmaier received the two a long time, proving a formidable opponent, but Capes’ constant improvements positioned him as a serious contender for the title.
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Geoff Capes leaves at the rear of a legacy as one of the most decorated and influential strength athletes in background.
He went on to acquire all over again in 1983 in Carmunnock and another four consecutive titles, building him essentially the most successful competitor ever concerning titles. He set environment records in lots of disciplines, such as the fifty six lb weight about the bar and brick lifting. To be a Highland competitor he was dubbed Geoff Dubh Laidir, translated as Black Solid Geoff.
Capes described himself as being a troubled youth and recalled that he was continuously fighting. "If another city arrived down on the Friday and there were only 8 or nine of them, I'd say, 'Return and have some additional'", he advised The Everyday Telegraph in 2023. "I'd struggle them alone. I used to be very peaceful but there was an inner aggression." Inspite of his pure inclination toward Bodily routines, Capes initially struggled to find accomplishment in sports. He faced a one particular-yr ban from an area soccer group following putting a referee through a match. He still left school at fourteen to work as a labourer, carrying sacks of potatoes and taking up different odd jobs.[six] On the age of 15, he loaded twenty a lot of potatoes on to a lorry in beneath 20 minutes, only to show that it may be accomplished. By 16, he check here experienced taken around the job of assistant coalman and odd-career worker for just a haulier in Lincolnshire.
"On behalf of all at England Athletics, we would like to share our deepest condolences with all of Geoff's household, mates and supporters, of which there have been numerous around the world. His influence on don't just the throwing globe but the wider monitor and industry family members was astounding, and his presence will likely be drastically skipped.