Other than sport and television appearances, Capes was famed for breeding budgerigars and had achievement (a former planet champion[9]) within the exhibit bench along with his Recessive Pieds. He participated in budgerigar reveals throughout Europe and gained a entire world championship in 1995. In 2008, he was appointed president on the Budgerigar Culture and sometimes served being a decide in competitions. "There’s one thing regarding their colour and beauty that fascinates me", Capes advised the Sunday Folks.
Capes is survived by his son, daughter, and 4 grandchildren. His family members, mates, and admirers around the world will proceed to remember his contributions to strength sports and his position in elevating the strongman discipline.
Knowing the possible of toughness sports activities, he took it on himself to advertise these activities, endeavoring to elevate their profile and accessibility. Internet hosting competitions and situations, he labored tirelessly to deliver interest to energy athletics, advocating for better recognition and means for athletes.
As well as his strongman achievements, Capes identified important accomplishment while in the Highland Games, a standard toughness competition showcasing activities such as the caber toss and hammer toss. Capes gained 6 Globe Highland Game titles titles over the 1980s, showcasing his amazing versatility and reinforcing his status as an athlete capable of excelling across diverse toughness disciplines.
Capes has also formulated the Lincolnshire Throws Academy for shot and discus in Holbeach, and his coaching protege and assistant, Paul Wilson, has absent on to guidebook Scott Lincoln into the number one place within the national senior ranks, in conjunction with quite a few other successes.
Geoffrey was the eldest little one of her third marriage and was followed by two much more siblings. All 11 lived collectively in 3 transformed cottages within the Lincolnshire fens. “The family members wasn’t just working class but was on the lowest rung of that really prolonged ladder that is the English class program,” Capes as soon as reported.
“We're saddened to hear in the passing of one of the greatest energy athletes of all time, Geoff Capes,” browse the Formal statement. “The British strongman legend received World’s Strongest Guy titles in 1983 and 1985.
1 memorable moment that eternally tied Geoff to British historical past was when he achieved Queen Elizabeth II right after winning the Braemar Gathering. In true bigger-than-lifestyle style, Geoff was rushed straight from the sector, his palms even now sticky with tacky through the caber toss, and found himself shaking the Queen’s hand—Substantially to his shock, her lace glove stuck to his.
Returning his attentions to nowadays, Capes is pleased to continue to guidebook numerous a lot more athletes to shot place good results, alongside pursuing One more worldwide title of his individual – while in the budgerigar earth championships.
His dimensions meant he was commonly pitted against more mature opponents; invariably he defeat them. By the end of 1966, aged 17, he was rated 30th during the nationwide listings.
featured a handful of 16-yr-outdated throwers in its ‘Highlight on youth’ column – Joe Bugner and Geoff Capes. When the promising teenage discus thrower Bugner went on to win the British boxing title and fought Muhammad Ali for the planet crown, Capes grew to become the extensive-time British document-holder from the shot put, earth’s strongest man winner and a number of Highland Video games winner.
What could have been a clumsy moment was saved by Geoff’s gentle humour and appeal, characteristics that endeared him to all who knew him. His afterwards recognition Along with the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 was a fitting tribute to his contributions both equally on and off the sector.
He accomplished worldwide fame as an athlete and two times crowned planet's strongest person, but nowadays neighbours in his Lincolnshire village paid out tribute into the Geoff Capes they realized - 'an incredible character using a enormous coronary heart'.
“As an athlete himself, (Storey was click here an Olympic and Commonwealth Game titles 110m hurdler ahead of taking over coaching and TV commentary), he inspired and directed me in his coaching, as we learnt the occasion jointly.