Iconic British thrower competed in three Olympics and was a family identify within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties as a result of his exploits on the athletics and strongman circuits
In Might 1966 AW featured a few 16-year-old throwers in its ‘highlight on youth’ column – Joe Bugner and Geoff Capes. Whereas the promising teenage discus thrower Bugner went on to win the British boxing title and fought Muhammad Ali for the world crown, Capes grew to become the long-time British record-holder within the shot put, world’s strongest man winner and a number of Highland Video games champion.
Capes, who died this week aged 75, additionally gained two European indoor shot put titles and two Commonwealth Video games gold medals throughout a stellar throws profession. As well as, he competed in three Olympic Video games.
In all, he improved the British document from 19.56m to 21.68m – holding the mark from 1972 to 2003 – and competed for Britain a outstanding 67 occasions. On the peak of his fame the shot circle at Crystal Palace was moved to the centre of the house straight in order that he can be centre stage. A bona fide athletics icon, he would usually begin competitions along with his tracksuit on after which take it off within the fourth or fifth spherical when “he meant enterprise”.
Geoff Capes (Mark Shearman)
Amazingly, Capes was the smallest of 5 brothers and in his early days ran a 4:48 mile and competed in cross-country. This operating means by no means left him throughout his throwing days both as, lengthy earlier than the Mondo Duplantis vs Karsten Warholm dash conflict, he beat Brendan Foster not as soon as however twice in exhibition 200m races in firstly Gateshead then Spalding.
The turning level for Capes as an athlete was when he met the worldwide dash hurdler Stuart Storey. A self-confessed “tearaway”, Capes knuckled down beneath Storey’s teaching and started setting age information from 16 onwards. They remained lifelong mates, too, with Storey sadly breaking the information of Capes’ demise to AW.
Geoff Capes (Mark Shearman)
In true Rocky Balboa type, within the weights room Capes learnt methods to elevate when engaged on the Lincolnshire farming fens alongside his father and eight siblings, earlier than later combining a police profession along with his athletics and strongman triumphs.
Throughout his prolonged profession, 1974 was his finest season when he gained European indoor and Commonwealth titles and introduced himself as a really world-class thrower. His greatest ever throw, nonetheless, got here in 1980 when he threw 21.68m in Cwmbran. He went to the Moscow Olympics that yr aiming for a medal however a again harm thwarted his probabilities and he wound up fifth.
He as soon as advised AW: “I believe I’d presumably be the one athlete to win so many athletics awards, and be world champion in three completely different sports activities, to not be awarded an MBE, however I’m positive it’s because of the truth I took a stand in opposition to Margaret Thatcher in 1980 to allow athletes to compete in Moscow, in so sacrificing my police profession.”
Geoff Capes and Stuart Storey on the England Awards (Mark Shearman)
Exterior athletics he was a six-time Highland Video games champion and gained the world’s strongest man title in 1983 and 1985.
Considerably bizarrely, given his large measurement, after his sports activities profession he grew to become a prime budgerigar breeder at his house close to Grantham. A ardour for breeding the small birds noticed him topped the budgerigar society’s president, in addition to profitable the world exhibiting title.
He gave a lot again to the game, too, teaching athletes similar to Rebecca Peake, Rachel Wallader and Sophie McKinna amongst many others. He additionally developed the Lincolnshire Throws Academy for shot and discus in Holbeach along with his teaching protege and assistant, Paul Wilson, happening to information Scott Lincoln to change into an Olympian and British No.1 within the shot put.
Geoff Capes with a few of his athletes (Mark Shearman)
Capes’ family alone produced a variety of prime throwers. His kids Lewis and Emma reached worldwide stage whereas Lawson Capes, his grandson, has just lately gained nationwide age group titles and change into the fifth member of the household to symbolize his nation within the occasion. Lawson’s elder brother, Donovan, has additionally gained an English Faculties title.
“I ended my profession realizing I had been the world’s No.1 in three completely different sports activities, which proves the significance of setting targets and targets as quickly as potential in any sporting profession,” Capes as soon as stated. “I by no means accepted second finest, and this angle enabled me to journey around the world, make many mates, and problem the perfect.”
Geoff Capes along with his day by day food regimen (Mark Shearman)
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