[Other Sport] Geoff Capes RIP

[TugWilson]

If all coppers were built like him crime would halve over night , very sad RIP big guy .

 

[The Rattler]

Shit day when you outlive The World’s Strongest Man. RIP GC

 

[BN9 BHA]

RIP Geoff
Something that is done up very tight and calls for a large spanner I usually mutter to myself “who did this up, Geoff Capes?”

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

A legend and quite a character on Superstars. RIP.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

If all coppers were built like him crime would halve over night , very sad RIP big guy .

Good point. I’ll add, Built like him, and with the ability to test phone directories in half!

 

[Easy 10]

Did a lot of waggling to this, back in the day.
RIP big boy.

 

[The Clamp]

Massive part of my youth. He was ever present.

Came to my school once and gave a talk about his bird keeping.

Seemed very nice indeed.

RIP GC

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I just read he was 6’ 5” (and weighed 26 stone) I always though he was short.

 

[Frutos]

Sad news.

RIP

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I just read he was 6’ 5” (and weighed 26 stone) I always though he was short.

A giant of a man. A superstar, and a great athlete.

 

[The Clamp]

Sums up a 1980’s weekend for me…

 

[Weststander]

Nice article.

Geoff Capes: ‘If eight or nine tried to fight me – I would ask for more’

Exclusive: British shot put record holder for the past 51 years looks back on his remarkable athletics career, diet and feats of strength

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[dazzer6666]

IIRC he was a decent sprinter

Me too - seem to recall being shocked when he belted off during the 100m in Superstars

RIP Big Man. Always seemed like a nice guy.

 

[Brovion]

Very sad. From an era when British athletes were household names for me. They still are, but somehow less so.

I think maybe because there were fewer of them that could be described as 'successful'? Nowadays we win so many medals in so many sports that our successful Olympians are ten-a-penny. Back in the 60s, 70s and 80s we had so few athletes who were capable of even challenging for a medal (I don't think Capes actually won an Olympic one). Consequently those who could were known and revered in a way they aren't today.

So yes, RIP Big Man.

 

[METALMICKY]

That's a real shame. A larger than life character who aside from shot putt will always be world's strongest man or Superstars

 

[rippleman]

I think maybe because there were fewer of them that could be described as 'successful'? Nowadays we win so many medals in so many sports that our successful Olympians are ten-a-penny. Back in the 60s, 70s and 80s we had so few athletes who were capable of even challenging for a medal (I don't think Capes actually won an Olympic one). Consequently those who could were known and revered in a way they aren't today.

So yes, RIP Big Man.

No, no Olympic medal for the big fella but remember he was competing in the era of the Soviet bloc and anybody around at the time knows that competitors from those eastern european countries excelled at one thing - cheating!

RIP Geoff and thanks for "those moments".