Grandsons Donovan, eighteen, and Lawson, 14, are already excelling at shot put Credit history: John Robertson to the Telegraph They're both coached by Capes’s son Lewis, himself an accomplished previous shot putter and American footballer, and they've shots and memorabilia from their grandfather’s occupation shown all over the get rid of in which they do their body weight instruction.

“We were being all a gang of mates but superstars in a way,” suggests Capes. “We Every single experienced our very own graphic and, if you took one for each event, we have been the top group on the earth.“

In his memory, admirers and fellow rivals alike say their closing goodbyes to some champion, honoring his daily life’s perform plus the powerful legacy he leaves driving.

“Russia invaded Afghanistan, and Margaret Thatcher banned many of the providers from likely – army and law enforcement – because they paid their wages. So I resigned with the police just prior to the Olympics. I lost my job, missing my pension, lost my revenue. They'd full control around you.”

Geoff Capes, that has died aged seventy five, was one among Britain’s most prolific and productive industry athletes, and he applied his enormous physical capacity to terrific effect in the 2nd wind of his job when he grew to become the “Environment’s Strongest Man”.

Despite the fact that Capes didn’t medal from the Olympics, his shot put occupation founded his status being a fierce competitor, paving the way for his strongman pursuits.

His most significant at any time toss, nevertheless, arrived in 1980 when he threw 21.68m in Cwmbran. He went towards the Moscow Olympics read more that yr aiming to get a medal but a back again harm thwarted his possibilities and he wound up fifth.

Geoff’s rise in athletics was meteoric. His dominance while in the shot place noticed him shatter British data and receive a location in the Olympics two times, competing 1st in Munich at just 21 and later attaining sixth location with the 1976 Montreal Game titles.

He blended his education in Holbeach with lifting sacks of potatoes on the farm and was usually in issues with authority.

By Strongman.org 18 September 2012 No Remarks Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Electronic mail + Geoff Capes, a towering figure the two in stature and in status, redefined the landscape of strongman competitions together with his unparalleled power and unwavering willpower. He emerged from an impressive athletic history, honing his formidable capabilities within the shot set, which laid the inspiration for his potential endeavors in power athletics.

“There’s a great deal for getting suitable across that seven-foot circle therefore you expend just as much Strength in that two seconds as being a 200m sprinter,” describes Geoff, who is distributed normal footage of the boys in motion to then relay comments.

"Geoff was an inspiration to so many of us rising up, a man whose remarkable achievements and character still left an enduring mark within the power Local community. His legacy will carry on to encourage the following era of strongmen and athletes all over the world.

Standing at 6ft five' and weighing 27 stone the ex-Olympian won the hearts of many supporters and admirers all over his daily life like a GB athlete. Pictured lifting 6 Ladies over a gameshow

Involving them they've now supplied me lots of grandchildren, all of whom are by now showing indications of being fantastic sportsmen, significantly in rugby.”