Geoff Capes was more than just a legendary strongman—he was a record-breaking athlete, a beloved TV personality, and a man with a passion for budgerigars.
The former Olympic shot putter and two-time World’s Strongest Man champion passed away last October at the age of 75, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.
His will revealed that he left nearly £240,000, along with a special final request: to have the words “Local Boy Done Good” inscribed on his gravestone.
A Champion in Athletics and Strength
Standing at an imposing 6ft 5.5 inches and weighing 26 stone in his prime, Capes was a dominant force in sports.
He still holds the British record for the longest shot put throw, an incredible 21.68m set in 1980.
Throughout his career, he twice won gold in the shot put at the Commonwealth Games and the European Indoor Championships.
He also competed in three Olympic Games, coming closest to a medal with a fifth-place finish at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Beyond athletics, Capes was a six-time World Highland Games champion and claimed victory at the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1983 and 1985, securing his place as one of the most successful strength athletes of all time.
A Soft Spot for Budgerigars
Despite his formidable presence, Capes was known for his gentler side.
He had an enduring love for budgerigars and became one of the world’s finest breeders of the birds.
His knowledge and dedication to the hobby earned him a respected reputation in the avian community, and he even served as president of the Budgerigar Society in 2008.
His Legacy and Final Wishes
Probate records show that Capes, who lived in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, left an estate valued at £244,462, with a net estate of £239,240.
The bulk of his assets were left to his second wife, Kashmiro Davi Capes-Bhatti.
His will also included thoughtful bequests to his family: his granddaughter was given the chance to select one of his cherished medals or trophies, while his grandsons received the rest of his collection.
He left a Lalique vase to his daughter Emma Boelemar and a grandfather clock to his son Lewis Capes, both from his first marriage.
In his will, Capes requested that he be cremated and that his headstone bear the words “Local Boy Done Good”—a fitting tribute to a man who achieved greatness while staying true to his roots.
A Career Shaped by Challenges
Before rising to fame, Capes served as a policeman in Cambridgeshire, earning just £9.50 a week when he started.
However, he was forced to leave the force before the 1980 Olympics due to political pressure following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.
Then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had banned all service members, including police officers, from competing in Moscow as part of the UK’s protest.
Reflecting on this difficult time, Capes once shared: “I lost my career, lost my pension, lost my income. They had total control over you.”
The Diet and Training of a Strongman
At the peak of his training, Capes followed an extreme diet to fuel his body.
His daily intake included six pounds of red meat, a dozen eggs, two loaves of bread, two tins of pilchards, a pound of butter, and six pints of milk.
Despite consuming up to 13,000 calories a day, he insisted, “There was no fat on me.”
His intense regimen included lifting a staggering 120 tons per week, and he could still sprint 100 meters in just 11.2 seconds.
A Lasting Impact on the Sporting World
Following his retirement, Capes took up coaching, helping young athletes develop their potential.
He also made appearances on reality television, further cementing his status as a public figure.
The sporting world was deeply saddened by his passing.
British Athletics extended condolences to his family and friends, while fellow Olympian Tessa Sanderson called him a “great person and a giant of an athlete.”
Scott Lincoln, the reigning British shot put champion, credited Capes with putting the sport “on the map in the UK,” describing him as an “icon, hero, legend, role model, friend, and all-round good guy.”
World Athletics president Lord Coe also paid tribute, saying: “Geoff’s passing is a sad moment for so many of us in both British and global athletics.
He was a huge figure in British athletics and brought the crowds back to our sport.
Fiercely independent, competitive, but always protective of the teams that he captained with distinction.”
A Legend Remembered
Geoff Capes’ legacy extends far beyond his victories.
He was a man of immense strength, both physically and in spirit, who never forgot his humble beginnings.
His final wish to be remembered as a “Local Boy Done Good” is a testament to his journey—from a small-town lad to an international sporting icon.
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