Geoff Capes, a two-time World’s Strongest Man and British shot-putter, has passed away at 75. He leaves behind his wife, Kashy, and his children and grandchildren.
At 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 27 stone, the former Olympian was recognized as the country’s top shot putter, and his national record from 1980 still stands today.
Highlights
- Geoff Capes, the World’s Strongest Man, seldom spoke about his second wife, Kashy.
- The only details that have surfaced are that he separated from his first wife, Gill Fox, one of his sister’s friends, in 1982.
- Geoff Capes and Kashy were frequently seen in photos celebrating their grandchildren Donovan and Lawson’s victories.
Despite winning 17 championships in Britain, the Commonwealth, and Europe, he never won an Olympic medal, finishing sixth in Montreal and eighth in Moscow.
His strength was built from a difficult upbringing. After leaving school at 14, he worked as a coalman on a farm, loading 20 tons of potatoes in only 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, he was banned from a local football team for a year after hitting a referee during a game.
However, he didn’t give up. While training at the Holbeach Athletic Club, he caught the attention of international hurdler Stuart Storey, who helped coach him in those early days.
Geoff Capes Married Second Wife Kashy After Gill Fox Left Him In 1982
Ghalib Al-Nasser expressed profound sadness over the passing of Geoff Capes, a good friend and former B.S. President, who died at 75. Geoff had been in the hospital for a few weeks.
The message offers heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kashy, and his family.
It is with great sadness and deep sorrow that we report the death of our good friend and past B.S. President Geoff Capes at the age of 75 years. Geoff has been in hospital for few weeks. RIP dear friend and our deepest condolences to his wife Kashy and his family.
Ghalib Al-Nasser
Similarly, David Pease shared the news of Geoff Capes’ passing, noting that it brought Dawn to tears. She remembered how, during her driving lessons, the instructor would take both Geoff and his wife shopping.
Just seen Geoff Capes has died. Dawn burst into tears. She used to do extra driving lessons when young with the instructor taking both Geoff and his wife shopping. Wonderful memories
David Pease
Geoff Capes, the World’s Strongest Man, seldom spoke about his second wife, Kashy.
The only details that have surfaced are that he separated from his first wife, Gill Fox, one of his sister’s friends, in 1982.
They had a son, Lewis, who played American football for the London Monarchs, and a daughter, Emma, the English School shot-put champion.
Geoff Capes and Kashy were frequently seen in photos celebrating their grandchildren’s victories.
Geoff Capes Was Confident That His Grandson, Trained By His Son, Lewis Will Excel In Sports
Geoff Capes was thrilled about the achievements of his two grandsons, 19-year-old Donovan and 15-year-old Lawson.
Lawson and Donovan were trained by their father, Lewis, at the shot put ring he built in Capes’ hometown of Stoke Rochford.
Donovan won the English school title in 2019 and is set to go to the U.S. on a scholarship, while Lawson is the leading Under-15 shot putter in the country by a large margin.
Capes believed both boys had bright futures ahead of them.
After all, the family has a shared talent for explosive speed and timing. Lawson can run 100 meters in 11.6 seconds, while his grandfather once did it in 11.2 seconds.
Even when he weighed 23 stone, he could complete 200 meters in 23.7 seconds, famously beating Brendan Foster in a race.
Capes mentioned that he shared muscle fibers with sprinters. His daughter Emma was also a national school champion and a medalist in the Junior Olympics.
Additional Information
- Geoff Capes was born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, the seventh of nine children.
- He was the oldest of three children from his mother, Eileen, and her third husband, Bill. His two oldest siblings were Braithwaites, and the next four were Cannons.
- He grew up in Holbeach and attended the local secondary school, George Farmer.
