Geoff Capes

Geoff Capes
Personal information
Born (1949-08-23) 23 August 1949 (age 75)
Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England
Years active1970–1989
Height197 cm (6 ft 5+12 in)
Weight170 kg (375 lb)
Sport
CountryGreat Britain and England
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Great Britain
European Athletics Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1974 Rome Shot put
European Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1974 Gothenburg Shot put
Gold medal – first place 1976 Munich Shot put
Silver medal – second place 1975 Katowice Shot put
Silver medal – second place 1977 San Sebastián Shot put
Silver medal – second place 1979 Vienna Shot put
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Milan Shot put
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1974 Christchurch Shot put
Gold medal – first place 1978 Edmonton Shot put
Strongman
Representing  United Kingdom
World's Strongest Man
3rd 1980 Vernon
2nd 1981 Magic Mountain
1st 1983 Christchurch
3rd 1984 Mora
1st 1985 Cascais
2nd 1986 Nice
World Muscle Power Classic
2nd 1985 East Kilbride
1st 1987 East Kilbride
2nd 1988 East Kilbride
Europe's Strongest Man
1st 1980 London
2nd 1981 Stockholm
1st 1982 Amsterdam
2nd 1983 Arnhem
1st 1984 Marken
2nd 1987 Amsterdam
World Strongman Challenge
1st 1987 Tokyo

Geoffrey Lewis Capes (born 23 August 1949)[1] is a British former shot putter, Strongman and Highland Games competitor.[2] He is widely regarded as one of the best and most versatile strength athletes of all time.

He represented England and Great Britain in field athletics, specialising in the shot put, an event in which he was twice Commonwealth champion, twice European indoor champion, and competed at three Olympic Games. As of October 2024, he still holds the British record for the shot put from 1980 when he hurled it 21.68 metres (71 ft 2 in).

As a strongman, he won World's Strongest Man twice,[1] and World Muscle Power Classic twice,[1] alongwith numerous other titles including Europe's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man.[1]

As a Highland Games competitor, he was six times world champion,[3] first winning the title in Lagos in 1981,[4] and held world records in numerous events.[1]

Following retirement from competitive sport he continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter and coach. He also ran a sportswear retail shop,[1] and became renowned as a world-class breeder of birds. Capes stood 197 cm (6 ft 5+12 in) and weighed 170 kg (375 lb) in his prime.

  1. ^ a b c d e f David Webster, Sons of Samson Volume 2 Profiles, page 78 (Ironmind Enterprises), ISBN 0-926888-06-4
  2. ^ "Geoff Capes". Strongman Archives. 17 June 1988. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lagos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference emily was invoked but never defined (see the help page).