Geoff Capes Biography: Age, Real Name, Career, Education, Parents, Height, Siblings, Wife, Children, Nationality, and Death

Born: August 23, 1949, Holbeach, United Kingdom  

Died: October 23, 2024 (age 75)  

Height: 1.97 m (6 ft 5½ in)  

Weight: 170 kg (375 lb)  

Children: Lewis Capes  

Parents: Bill Capes, Eileen Capes  

Geoffrey Lewis Capes, better known as Geoff Capes, was an English shot putter, strongman, and Highland Games competitor. He was also a police constable and became a well-known figure in the UK during the 1980s due to his athletic achievements and television appearances, especially in shows like Superstars and World's Strongest Man, which he won twice.

Early Life and Background

Geoff Capes was born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. He was one of nine children in his family, the eldest of his mother’s three children with her third husband, Bill Capes. Growing up, Geoff showed talent in various sports. He represented his local area, Lincolnshire, in basketball, football, and cross-country running. He was also a decent sprinter, running the 200 meters in 23.7 seconds.

From a young age, Geoff Capes had a love for nature and often cared for injured birds and animals. After school, he worked as a coalman and an agricultural laborer, where he demonstrated incredible strength, once loading 20 tons of potatoes in just 20 minutes. Following family tradition, he joined the Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a police officer in 1970.

Athletics Career

Geoff Capes made his mark in shot put, representing England and Great Britain. He competed in three Olympic Games and won two Commonwealth Games gold medals. Capes also claimed two European Indoor Championship titles in 1974 and 1976. His personal best in shot put came in 1980 when he set a British and Commonwealth record with a throw of 21.68 meters (71 ft 2 in), which still stands as the British record as of 2024.

In addition to his Olympic success, Geoff Capes earned 67 international caps for Great Britain, with 35 victories. He was also a 17-time national champion, making him one of Britain's most successful field athletes.

Strongman Career

Geoff Capes became a well-known strongman after he transitioned from athletics. He won the World Strongest Man title twice, in 1983 and 1985, and earned numerous other titles, including Europe Strongest Man and Britain Strongest Man. Geoff Capes was famous for his incredible arm and hand strength, often performing feats like tearing telephone directories in half and bending steel bars.

As a strongman, Geoff Capes built a fierce rivalry with Icelandic competitor Jón Páll Sigmarsson, who once famously declared, “The King has lost his crown” when he beat Capes in 1984. Capes came back stronger and reclaimed his title in 1985.

Highland Games

Geoff Capes was also a dominant force in the Highland Games, a traditional Scottish strength competition. He won the world championship six times and set numerous records in various events. Geoff Capes first world title came in 1981.

Retirement and Later Life

After retiring from competitive sports, Geoff Capes continued his involvement in strength athletics as a coach, referee, and event promoter. He also ran a sportswear retail shop and became a renowned bird breeder, specializing in canaries.

Geoff Capes remained active in the strength and sports community until his passing on October 23, 2024, at the age of 75. His legacy as one of Britain’s greatest athletes, both in shot put and strongman competitions, continues to be remembered.

Geoff Capes Wife and Children 

Geoff Capes was married to his wife, and together they had two children, a son named Lewis Capes and a daughter. Lewis Capes followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a strongman and competing in strength competitions. The family lived a private life, with Geoff often sharing his love for sports and nature with his children. Geoff Capes passion for bird breeding also became a family activity, and his children were involved in his hobbies. His wife supported Geoff Capes throughout his athletic career, from his days as a shot putter to his time as a world-class strongman.

Geoff Capes Personal Life 

Outside of his sports career, Geoff Capes worked as a policeman for many years and was once part of the Air Training Corps. In 1977, before retiring from athletics, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for his service to the community. After retiring, he opened a sportswear shop in Holbeach, then moved to Spalding, where he became a Justice of the Peace in 1998. At the height of his fame in 1985, a video game called Geoff Capes Strongman was released, featuring events like truck pulling and tug-of-war. He also starred in a memorable TV commercial for the Volkswagen Polo, where he lifted and rolled the car over with his bare hands. His fame brought him to British television, including a role in Supergran and an appearance on Blue Peter, where he lost a challenge to Welsh strongman George Davies. In 1987, he worked as a timekeeper for The Grand Knockout Tournament. He later appeared on the show Shooting Stars and was the face of Cadbury's Wispa relaunch in 2007. In 2010, he was featured in an advert for the Great British Food Fight on Channel 4 and for Churchill insurance.

Outside of sports and TV, Geoff Capes was known for breeding budgerigars, becoming a world champion with his Recessive Pieds. In 2008, he became president of the Budgerigar Society, along with his friend Mick Widdowson. He often wrote for Cage & Aviary Birds. He started breeding budgies while working as a policeman, after talking to a man he had arrested for not paying a fine.

In his personal life, Geoff Capes lived in Stoke Rochford, near Grantham. His daughter Emma was a shot put champion, and his son Lewis played American football for the London Monarchs. He had four grandchildren and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1998. His autobiography Big Shot was published in 1981. Geoff Capes passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 75.

Geoff Capes Height and Weight Measurements 

Geoff Capes was known for his impressive height and weight, which contributed to his success in strength sports. He stood at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall, making him one of the tallest competitors in events like strongman and shot put. His weight varied throughout his career, but at his peak, he weighed around 23 stone (146 kilograms or 321 pounds). His large size, combined with his strength and athletic ability, made him a dominant figure in competitions, earning him the title of World Strongest Man twice. His towering height and powerful build were key factors in his sporting achievements.

FAQs 

1. What is Geoff Capes real name?

   - Geoff Capes full name is Geoffrey Lewis Capes.

2. When was Geoff Capes born?

   - Geoff Capes was born on August 23, 1949.

3. How old was Geoff Capes when he died?

   - Geoff Capes died on October 23, 2024, at the age of 75.

4. What is Geoff Capes nationality?

   - Geoff Capes was British.

5. What was Geoff Capes height and weight?

   - Geoff Capes stood at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall and weighed around 23 stone (146 kilograms or 321 pounds) at his peak.

6. What was Geoff Capes known for?

   - Geoff Capes was a two-time World's Strongest Man, a shot put champion, and a strongman competitor.

7. What was Geoff Capes profession outside of sports?

   - Geoff Capes worked as a policeman and later ran a sportswear retail shop. He also became a Justice of the Peace in 1998.

8. Did Geoff Capes have a family?

   - Yes, Geoff Capes had a wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

9. Who were Geoff Capes children?

   - Geoff Capes daughter, Emma Capes, was an English Schools' shot put champion, and his son, Lewis Capes, played American football for the London Monarchs.

10. Where did Geoff Capes live?

   - Geoff Capes lived in Stoke Rochford, near Grantham, England.

11. Did Geoff Capes have any siblings?

   - There is no information readily available about Geoff Capes siblings.

12. Did Geoff Capes win any awards?

   - Yes, in 1977, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for his services to the community.

13. What other interests did Geoff Capes have?

   - Geoff Capes was a passionate breeder of budgerigars and even became the president of the Budgerigar Society in 2008.

14. Did Geoff Capes write any books?

   - Yes, he published an autobiography titled "Big Shot" in 1981.

15. Did Geoff Capes appear on television?

   - Yes, he made several television appearances, including commercials and shows like "Supergran" and "Shooting Stars". He also appeared in a video game titled "Geoff Capes Strongman".