American strongman Monthly bill Kazmaier gained the two years, proving a formidable opponent, but Capes’ continual enhancements positioned him as a serious contender for your title.
Following retiring from energy athletics in 1987, Capes ongoing his involvement inside the Activity by schooling young athletes and performing to be a referee at strength competitions in the UK.
Russell Whitworth mentioned: “Have know Geoff all my life given that he grew up along with my brother and our dad and mom labored with each other. A good amount of enjoyable at fat lifting club early yrs. Hardly ever forgot his Holbeach roots. RIP big gentleman.”
His impact and report-breaking achievements have remaining a long-lasting effect on the field of toughness sporting activities and built him a revered determine between lovers and fellow athletes alike.
Capes transitioned to strongman contests in 1980, and also the shift marked the start of his legendary status in strength sporting activities. He debuted on earth’s Strongest Gentleman Competitiveness that 12 months, earning a bronze medal in his initially outing and following it up with a silver in 1981.
In the course of tea breaks within the haulier's garden, he made his arm strength by lifting two four-stone weights overhead. He also developed a makeshift gymnasium with two good friends.[eight] Through this time, he joined an area athletics club, exactly where he satisfied Stuart Storey, a hurdler who later on competed during the 1968 Olympics. Capes stated that Storey helped him change his lifetime around and guided him during his early days in athletics. Storey encouraged him to try shot place and engage in competitions. Missing the implies to acquire good dresses, Capes attended events wearing garments left at the rear of by his mom's people after they died.[6] His very first endeavor at aggressive shot-Placing finished with him inserting next-to-past in the finals on the 1964 All England Universities Athletics Championships.[eight]
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“Not just was Geoff a two-time Entire world’s Strongest Person along with a file-breaking shot putter, but he was also an enormous in coronary heart and spirit,” Corridor said, for every the BBC.
Capes, the oldest of your a few, was near strongman retirement at this time and another calendar year, on the 1988 Environment Muscle mass Electric power Common he completed 2nd, and it proved for being his previous key outing being a strongman.[19]
Except for Activity and television appearances, Capes was famed for breeding budgerigars and experienced achievement (a previous environment winner[nine]) about the present bench with his Recessive Pieds. He participated in budgerigar exhibits across Europe and received a world championship in 1995. In 2008, he was appointed president from the Budgerigar Society and often served as a judge in competitions. "There’s something with regards to their colour and beauty that fascinates me", Capes told the Sunday People.
He stated: “I have identified Geoff for many years and while he may very well be outspoken he was a gentle large with a terrific feeling of humour. His is truly a legend in fire77 Holbeach and immortalised to the Holbeach Mosaic from the city Centre, coupled with his commentator friend Stuart Storey and Paralympian Sally Reddin who all put Holbeach well and truly on the international phase.
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“He paved how for athletes like me, showing that British grit and perseverance could conquer the planet,” he extra.
“That sort of mutual aid should be lauded,” Seren reported “The effort that People towns and their hearth assistance brought to the town of Cleveland Heights was huge, and we appreciate that listed here in the town.