Tributes paid to sporting legend Geoff Capes from Lincolnshire following his death
He died yesterday at the age of 75
Tributes continue to come in following the death of high profile sportsman Geoff Capes from Lincolnshire .
He lived close to Grantham and died yesterday
The 75-year-old competed for Great Britain in the shot put at three Olympic Games, secured two Commonwealth titles and twice won the World’s Strongest Man competition.
The six foot, five-and-a-half inch strongman's death was confirmed by British Athletics via a statement posted to their X account on Wednesday night.
It read: "British Athletics are saddened to hear the news of former British shot putter, Geoff Capes' passing.
"Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this time."
You could tell he had so much passion for the sport and he really really loved it
Capes also served as a police officer.
He was born in 1949 in Holbeach, the seventh of nine children, and as a youngster became a member of Holbeach Athletic Club, where he was coached by Olympic hurdler Stuart Storey.
He represented his county in basketball, football and cross-country.
He worked as a coalman and an agricultural labourer after school, his official biography on the Geoff Capes Foundation saying he earned a reputation for "being able to load 20 tons of potatoes in 20 minutes" before joining Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 1970, where he served for a decade.
We've been speaking to Hannah Richardson who was taught the discus by Geoff Capes.
He was actually a really lovely man - he could have a good laugh and a joke with you but was serious about sport
She said: "Being there you could tell he had so much passion for the sport and he really really loved it."
"It was amazing just to be in the same room as one of the greats in throwing."
"To have that knowledge and experience from him passed on was so valuable at the time and was one of those moments I'll never forget."
"He was actually a really lovely man - he could have a good laugh and a joke with you."
"But when it was down to business - down to that throwing he was very serious."
"You could tell just how much he loved it."
"He passed on so much knowledge and at such a young age you don't really take it in what you're getting but it's those moments you'll never forget and are an absolute privilege".