Capes could see no foreseeable future as an amateur and, though convinced that he would still have challenged for your shot set medal in 1984, a different profession combining the earth Highland Games Using the progressively common and worthwhile strongman circuit beckoned.

sixty eight metres. It stood for seventeen yrs. Irrespective of his successes, while, Capes chose to retire early from novice athletics to take part in televised strongman contests – a decision he attributed mostly to boredom Along with the Activity which initially manufactured him popular.

Comprehending the opportunity of energy sports, he took it on himself to promote these gatherings, endeavoring to elevate their profile and accessibility. Web hosting competitions and situations, he labored tirelessly to carry consideration to energy athletics, advocating for greater recognition and resources for athletes.

The 66-calendar year-outdated previous British isles shot put report-holder, who even now stands at next on the all time rankings behind Carl Myerscough’s 21.92m, has become An effective shot put coach, guiding many youthful athletes to countrywide and Intercontinental glory.

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Geoff Capes leaves powering a legacy as Among the most decorated and influential strength athletes in history.

And Capes was quickly in demand for every little thing from seventeen pantomime appearances and kids’s Television set to performances with the Palladium with Bobby Davro and diverse tv adverts (he famously gave the VW Polo a once more than by rolling it from major to bottom and facet to aspect).

Geoff’s increase in athletics was meteoric. His dominance in the shot place observed him shatter British information and make an area at the Olympics two times, competing first in Munich at just 21 and later on obtaining 6th position with the 1976 Montreal Game titles.

He as soon as threw a 5lb making brick 146ft – earning himself a spot from the Guinness E-book of Records. Tearing telephone directories in half was mentioned being his celebration piece.

His sizing meant he was commonly pitted in opposition to older competitors; invariably he conquer them. By the top of 1966, aged seventeen, he was rated 30th while in the nationwide listings.

There will be only two Adult males across the complete area occasion programme, Though that should involve Scott Lincoln, a shot putter that is now in 40cm of Capes’ 21.68m British record – which you'll be able to see him toss beneath.

The younger athlete, Possibly not but aware of the legacy he was to leave inside the sport, claimed check here his first gold medal from the shot put event. It had been here that an international audience to start with witnessed his ability and potential.

Whilst he was instinctively drawn to all physical things to do, good results was initially elusive for Capes in almost any sporting context. He was banned from taking part in for a local football staff for just a 12 months immediately after hitting a referee during a match.

But his purely natural means was almost never questioned, as his 67th and remaining Worldwide outing, at Cwmbran in Wales, proved. On that celebration Capes prolonged his very own British shot-Placing history to 21.