Geoff Capes fo me was the reason why I watched strong man as a kid, along with Magnus Magnus, Jon-Pall, ofc. To me, he was my hero of the sport. As a man of 51, I am genuinely upset of his passing. I cringe when some use the term "legend". However! Geoff Capes, was a strongman legend. RIP, and thanks for my childhood strongman memories.
I met him when I was about 3 years old, he picked me up out of the crowd, one of my first memories 😊 absolute legend. A loss that will be felt far and wide 😢
I remember watching Geoff compete against Jon Pall Sigmarsson ("I'm a viking" 😂) as a young boy. My now departed dad and I would be glued to the TV every year rapt to see who would emerge victorious in this clash of giants. It truly was a spectacle and I have been addicted to the world's strongest man ever since. Britain has had several champions and many greats but nobody cut through to the general public's attention like Geoff. He was truly famous in the UK, beyond the world of strongman or sport and from what I understand a real gentleman too. RIP Geoff.
A big part of my childhood (I'm 47) and his battles with Jon pall are what got me into strongman and I'm still a massive fan today. First wsm I watched as a 7 year old boy was the 1984 final which my mum recorded on the beta max video for me. I watched it over and over about 10 times! A household name and legend
Geoff is an absolute legend. First strongman I ever became aware of, and a British icon in the 80s. Amazing athlete, and he always had a twinkle in his eye.
Meet Geoff when I was 12 doing athletics. I had no idea who he was and when I was warming up for Shot he came over to help a few of us out. He had so much time and patience for all of us. It was only after I competed that my dad told me who he was and he just sat there and smiled and waved while watching all of us compete. He was a lovely person with a very big heart.
The man has huge respect on his name. Geoff Cape R.I.P big man! A legendary status well deserved and a proud legacy! It been nice to see the mainstream media put respect on his name too!
I'm in my 40s. When I was growing up, his name was a synonym for "big strong bloke" - like, if you picked up something heavy, your mum would call you " Geoff Capes" - and he it still is for a lot of us and always will be. RIP Geoff, God bless.
The best thing about huge people like Geoff is that in real life they are usually so kind and gentle and will go out of their way to assist in situations when strength is needed.
I've watched the re-runs of the World's Strongest Man with Geoff and Sigmarsson many, many times in the morning as I'm cooking my bacon and eggs. An absolute unit of a man and worthy of being thought of as a Legend.
Geoff was a Giant of a man in his prime. Every year that he returned to competition, he was bigger and stronger. He had such great rivalries with Jon Pall and Bill. He was a good man and very smart. RIP Geoff!
Its so sad to hear of Geoff Capes passing. He was a household name to so many people back in the day. Watching WSM at Christmas with my family is one of my best memories of being a kid, in awe of Geoff and the others lifting those weights. Hearing the news took me back to being a little boy again and all those memories came flooding back. I do hearing the phrase 'who do you think you are...Geoff Capes?' Ha. God bless him and RIP to my childhold hero, Geoff Capes
As an American, I was only aware of Geoff from the World Strongest Man competitions. I learned about his shotput and Highland Games accolades when researching a game review of his ZX Spectrum title "Geoff Capes Strongman". He was an impressive person, and not just for his physical exploits. I think this was a great and informative tribute. RIP big man.
At 37 I am abit young to remember him on tv but I remember my parents and the guys on wsm talking about him. Wsm in general and big geoff was the main reason I started to lift weights at 15 or 16. Now 20 years later it payed off 6ft5 and 130odd kg. Rip Geoff you inspired many to the gym even after you retired. Man will always be a legend 😊.
For many people, especially those in their late 30's or older. Geoff really was the face of British strongman. Bags of personality and character, with the most intense competitive energy to rival any athlete. He really did come from that golden era. Sorely missed. RIP Mr Capes.
Ahh man i started watching strongman in 99 when i was 14 and him and kaz became some of my favorites geoff was a legend! Soo much heart and technically as sound as Mitchell hooper is today he's absolutely one of the best strongman competitors ever. Rip
Rest in peace, Strongman. Just checked if he is doing well two days ago. Had a strange feeling. Sad news. Was a great man of the sport and his country.
❤🙏🇬🇧💪 Love and Respect Geoff was awesome and makes me proud to be British Condolences to his family 🙏 You and Liz are awesome I love this channel Trevor, Birmingham 🇬🇧
Nice Loz !! Geoff was a true legend !! I grew up watching him on wsm like many others. I competed with his son at a Daily Star strongman event & he was nice also & a unit !! Rest in peace Geoff !! You were a strength icon ❤
Geoff was a wonderful man & a legend in the strength world. I met a man many years back who was a sports coach & spent some time with Geoff & intimated that his throwing technique wasn’t that great but he was SO strong it didn’t matter…he still holds the British record to this day! But the story begs the question that if he had much better technique perhaps he would have been one of the worlds best & not just UK champion. He was the reason I became an avid fan of strongman & he was the man who popularised the sport in this country & all the great things achieved by British strongmen since are down to his inspiration. ✊
Geoff Capes was my childhood, sat watching Worlds Strongest Man as a 9 year-old absolutely transfixed by these giants that were so strong. Made me start training at around 14-15 and I've never stopped and I turn 50 next month. R.I.P Geoff Capes, he's up there now battling it out with Jon Pall. ❤❤
Capes car advert has brought back memories of watching WSM as a child in the early 80's. Me and my dad routing for him and of course my mom for Jon Pall.
Man, Geoff is one of my favorites to watch from the early days of Strongman. WSM 1985 is one of my favorite wins and I still feel like I've never seen a former champion come into Worlds Strongest Man that determined to win their title back. Great year and great athlete in the first real rivalry between Legends. He certainly battled Kaz but it was his trading the title back and forth with Jon Pall Sigmarsson that is really defining. It's also interesting that he was a shot putter as that seems to be a discipline that produces solid strongmen. Right off the top of my head Vasyl Virastyuk and his brother were both shot putters. I know there are some less successful but never the less solid strongmen who also had a back ground in shot put. Obviously being an American who started really following Strongman back in 1998 and having not even been born the first time Geoff won a title, I was a little late to the party but he just seemed like a gentleman and he was a great competitor. RIP Geoff Capes
The first time I heard about the concept of being strong was hearing about Geoff Capes on TV when I was 6. Legend! They should put up a statue in Holbeach!
Many athletes at WSM give me memories of the start of it. I was 15 for the first World's and no one dared to change the channel. Geoff is one of those that I loved watching. His passing leaves a huge hole in the strongman community. My prayers go out to his Family.
Lincolnshire legend I met him on many occasions first in Spalding with John noakes , Shep opening a new store, we swapped fishing reels which I still have back in early 80s what a guy RIP 🙏Geoff nice to know you 🤝 👏👌👍🇬🇧💯💪
Huge respect to Geoff Capes. RIP to a legend. A lovely man, but when he got his game face on i could feel his energy and intense determination thru th tv screen. Gave so much, he will be sorely missed
Geoff Capes really was a legend. No, IS. The first time I ever heard of strongman in my life, I was a kid and one of those early/mid 1980s World's Strongest Man competitions was on TV at my grandparents' house. My Grandpa loved strongman. I can't remember which one it was, but I think it was some reruns leading up to showing the then-new 1986 edition. And there was the unforgettable clash of Capes and Kazmaier, and Kaz's crazy eyes and all that. I'll never forget it. And I'll never forget, even as an American, picking Geoff Capes as my favourite! And he remained my singular favourite strongman for years after, and even now he's one of my all-time favourites. Bittersweet memories all around. Big man with a big life, to be admired and remembered forever.
In terms of mass appeal, Strongman still hasn't regained the level of popularity WSM and someone like Geoff had then. And it's incredible how strong he was despite pretty sub-optimal training, nutrition and 'supplementation'.
My first memories of strongman are of Geoff Capes in the early 80's, remember me an my mates always saying to each other 'who do u think u are Geoff Capes' 😄💪..rip hig man 💪🙏
Lovely tribute Loz & Liz. So very respectful. I am sorry to you both for the loss of your friend. When I started watching strongman 2 years ago and was watching all I could on You Tube from the very beginning, Geoff was my favorite to watch after Kaz. Sending you both love and light on this difficult day. Liz, just beautifully done on such short notice.
Very sad that he has gone. As well as strongman, I remember watching him compete in the TV "Superstars" competition, including an amazingly fast 100 meters.
