British Olympic speaker and strongman Geoff Capes is a former athlete and Commonwealth gold medalist who participated in the Games during the 1970’s. An impressive and versatile athlete Capes specialised in the shot put and has taken part in The Highland Games on numerous occasions. Since retiring Capes has gone on to work as a sports speaker and coach in his other sporting area of interest: strength.
Making his first appearance as an Olympic speaker and competitor in 1972 Geoff Capes had already taken part in his first Commonwealth Games two years earlier. Finishing fourth at the Commonwealth in Edinburgh Capes did not qualify for the Olympics until 1976 when he represented Great Britain at the Montreal Olympics as the book keepers favourite for gold. Breaking the British distance record for the shot put earlier that same year Capes eventually came sixth in the ’76 games.
Capes’ is most well known however for his gold medal performances at the 1974 and ’76 European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg and Munich respectively. It was during this period that Geoff Capes also won his first Commonwealth gold at the 1974 games, a feat which he would go on to repeat in 1976.
Outside his appearances as an Olympic speaker at shot putter Geoff Capes was also a strongman, standing at 6 feet and five and a half inches Capes weighed 23 stone at his professional peak. Capes’ won no less than six Highland games, making him the current record holder for most trophies, and was named Worlds Strongest Man and World Muscle Power Champion twice.
Retiring from professional sports in the 1980’s and began working as a sports speaker, coach and referee for both athletics and strength, his protégée’s including Adrian Smith. In more recent years Geoff Capes has gone on to work as an after dinner speaker as well as running his own sportswear shop. He currently acts as the Justice of the Peace in Spalding, England, following on from his earlier career as a police officer.
How to hire Geoff Capes
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Geoff Capes for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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