Sports
Legendary Strongman and British Shot Put Record Holder Geoff Capes Passes Away at 75
Geoff Capes, the celebrated British shot put record holder and two-time World’s Strongest Man champion, has died at the age of 75. Capes, who set the British shot put record with a remarkable distance of 21.68 meters in 1980, left an enduring legacy in both athletics and strength sports.
In a heartfelt statement, his family shared: “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’ athletic accomplishments are vast, with two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two European Indoor Championships titles in shot put. A three-time Olympian, his closest brush with an Olympic medal came in 1980, where he finished fifth at the Moscow Games.
Born in Lincolnshire, Capes also excelled outside of shot put, becoming a six-time champion at the World Highland Games and gaining worldwide recognition through his victories at the prestigious World’s Strongest Man competitions. He claimed his first title in 1983 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and his second in 1985 in Cascais, Portugal.
Fellow strongman and 2017 World’s Strongest Man winner Eddie Hall paid tribute to Capes, describing him as “a true legend of strength.” Hall expressed, “Geoff was an inspiration to so many of us growing up, a man whose incredible achievements and character left a lasting mark on the strength community. His legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of strongmen and athletes around the world.”
Capes’ towering presence—standing 6ft 5.5in and weighing 170kg during his prime—was as significant as his influence on future athletes. Following his retirement, Capes became a dedicated coach, mentoring numerous aspiring athletes and making appearances on reality television.
In later years, Capes resided in the Lincolnshire village of Stoke Rochford, enjoying life with his two children and grandchildren. His remarkable achievements, kind spirit, and influence on the strength community ensure that his legacy will live on, inspiring future generations of athletes.
Rest in peace, Geoff Capes, a true giant in every sense.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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