Geoff Capes, UK strongman and Olympic shot putter, dies aged 75

Geoff Capes, who competed for Great Britain in the shot put at three Olympic Games, won two Commonwealth titles and twice won the World's Strongest Man competition, has died aged 75.

- Tony Paley

A family statement said: "The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, 23rd October. Britain's finest shot putter and twice world's strongest man."

Capes was at the height of his sporting prowess in the 1970s, competing in the Great Britain team for 11 years and racking up the largest number of athletics caps in history for his country. He became a household name after his track and field career was over, starring in the Superstars TV programme, which attracted 10 million viewers at its height, and winning the World's Strongest Man title in 1983 and 1985.

Capes was UK shot put champion on three occasions. He claimed gold at the 1984 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, when he recorded a record throw of 20.74 metres. He defended the title four years later in Edmonton, Canada.