Geoff Capes

Geoffrey Lewis Capes JP (23 August 1949 – 23 October 2024) was a British shot putter, strongman, and Highland Games competitor. He was famous in the UK in the 1980s for his sporting prowess and appearances on television in shows such as Superstars and the World's Strongest Man.

Capes represented England and Great Britain in field athletics, specialising in the shot put, an event in which he was twice Commonwealth champion, twice European indoor champion, and competed at three Olympic Games. As of October 2024, he still holds the British record for the shot put from 1980 when he putted it 21.68 metres (71 ft 2 in). As a strongman, he won World's Strongest Man twice, and World Muscle Power Classic twice, along with numerous other titles including Europe's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man. As a Highland Games competitor, he was six times world champion, first winning the title in Lagos in 1981 and the final title in 1987. He also set over 15 strength related world records.

Following retirement from competitive sport, he continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter, and coach. He also ran a sportswear retail shop, and became renowned as a world-class breeder of birds. Capes stood 197 cm (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and weighed 170 kg (375 lb) in his prime.