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The turning place for Capes as an athlete was when he achieved the Global sprint hurdler Stuart Storey. A self-confessed “tearaway”, Capes knuckled down less than Storey’s coaching and commenced environment age documents from 16 onwards. They remained lifelong mates, way too, with Storey sadly breaking the information of Capes’ Loss of life to AW
His impact and document-breaking achievements have still left a long-lasting effect on the field of toughness athletics and produced him a revered determine among fans and fellow athletes alike.
Mid-Early morning Snack: He normally had a protein drink to get a mid-early morning snack plus some almonds forever fats to help keep his calorie usage in check.
"On behalf of all at England Athletics, we wish to share our deepest condolences with all of Geoff's spouse and children, pals and supporters, of which there have been a lot of worldwide. His effect on not simply the throwing globe but the broader keep track of and area spouse and children was astounding, and his existence might be tremendously skipped.
“I finished my occupation knowing I were the planet’s No.one in 3 distinctive athletics, which proves the importance of placing objectives and targets right away in any sporting vocation,” he defined.
His largest at any time throw, however, came in 1980 when he threw 21.68m in Cwmbran. He went into the Moscow Olympics that yr aiming for your medal but a back again injury thwarted his possibilities and he wound up fifth.
The future strongman’s Preliminary foray into the world of sports wasn’t by way of lifting stones or tossing logs, but alternatively, it commences inside the discipline of keep track of and field.
“I used to be quite lucky to own Stuart at almost all of my internationals, in his capacity like a BBC commentator alongside Pickering and David Coleman – he was a fantastic motivator, And that i experienced the expertise to acquire, which was a fantastic combination.
From the moment he stepped into your strongman circuit, he confirmed glimpses of greatness. Though a lot of athletes choose yrs to problem them selves with the rigors of strongman functions, he tailored with remarkable relieve.
highlighted a few sixteen-yr-old throwers in its ‘Highlight on youth’ column – Joe Bugner and Geoff Capes. Although the promising teenage discus thrower Bugner went on to gain the British boxing title and fought Muhammad Ali for the planet crown, Capes turned the lengthy-time British record-holder inside the shot place, planet’s strongest guy winner and many Highland Games champion.
As Computer system 222 he was nicely-known as Peterborough’s to start with line of defence. “The law enforcement employed my strength extremely constructively,” he said. “After i was on responsibility there were by no read more means any fights on Friday evenings. If matters turned unappealing, they’d generally say ‘Deliver for Capesy’.”
Another amusing story revolved all around myself and two other athletes hiding all the officials’ cost-free Alcoholic beverages in the Munich Olympics, making it possible for us to possess a great submit-online games occasion.
This regularity ensured his standing as amongst Britain’s hottest athletes. The often weird nature of A few of these trials of strength, for instance hauling a 9-ton lorry 100ft or pushing a 900lb bodyweight uphill on wheels, wasn't missing on Capes. He mentioned his favourite occasions ended up the truck pull as well as the bar bend.