Geoff Capes Battled Health Problems, Including Obesity, With Fans Speculating About Diabetes
Geoff Capes, born on August 23, 1949, in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, was a distinguished British athlete known for his prowess in the shot put, strongman competitions, and Highland Games.
Capes represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games (1972, 1976, and 1980) and was a two-time Commonwealth champion (1974 and 1978). He still holds the British shot put record of 21.68 meters, set in 1980.
Highlights
- Geoff Capes passed away; however, the reason for his demise is yet to be revealed.
- Capes was hospitalized because of strained trapezius muscles before his retirement.
- During Capes’ peak, he ate about 12,000 calories each day.
Similarly, he won the title of World’s Strongest Man twice, in 1983 and 1985, and also secured numerous other titles, such as Europe’s Strongest Man and Britain’s Strongest Man.
Sadly, he is no longer between us as his family announced his demise. He passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 75.
Before Geoff Capes Demise, He Was Suffering From Health Problems
Following Geoff Capes’ passing news, many people paid their respects online, sharing heartfelt tributes to the “gentle giant.” For instance, British Athletics took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their condolences, stating,
“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.”
Although Capes’ demise news is made public, what took his life is yet to be revealed. However, those who loved him and his works are fully aware that he was having health issues.
Capes was suffering mainly due to obesity. He gained massive weight following his retirement, bringing mobility challenges later in his life.
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Moreover, his health worries and the natural winding down of his athletic career led him to retire.
Throughout his successful time in the shot put and strongman contests, Capes faced physical challenges that put a lot of stress on his body.
Before he quit, he ended up in the hospital because of strained trapezius muscles. So, his tough training and competition schedule played a part in these health problems.
In the same way, during his peak, Capes ate about 12,000 calories each day. This high-protein, carb-heavy diet was needed to power his intense training sessions, often taking up to five hours daily. Back then, Capes weighed 375 lbs or 170 kg.
After Capes retired, his eating habits and workout routine changed a lot. This shift, along with his age and past injuries, harmed his health.
Eventually, he gained massive weight and became less active, which led to health problems as he got older.
One can see this clearly in the interviews he gave later on in his retirement.
Fans Talk On Geoff Capes Being Diabetic In The Following Years
Despite his retirement, Geoff Capes maintained a large fan base due to his accomplishments and the standard he set. Furthermore, people discuss his career and how he inspired them to participate in sports.
In one online forum, fans can’t believe how big Capes has gotten, and one of them cracked jokes that “he didn’t slow down on the vittles” after retiring.
Similarly, many wondered how he could even walk now that he’s in his 70s and so heavy.
Former strongman legend Geoff Capes
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Also, a fan called Mike Rinderle thinks Capes might have diabetes, which could explain the weight gain, but nobody’s confirmed this online yet. He wrote,
“I believe I read somewhere that he has diabetes.”
Another fan, Stanislav, agrees and says Capes’ health problems led to how he looks now, writing,
“Yes, Geoff has some health issues; that’s why he is overweight now.”
So, some think Capes didn’t slow down on his diet after quitting, but some reckon he might have had health issues, like diabetes, that made it hard to keep his weight down.
Additioanl Information
- After Geoff Capes retired, he remained actively involved in the athletics community as a referee, event promoter, and coach for young athletes.
- Similarly, after he quit in 2006, he got into a fell race in Cumbria and won.
- Capes is survived by his wife, two children, and grandchildren.
