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.
News
Tiger Woods Accepts Five-Year Driving Ban After Reckless Driving Plea
Golfing legend Tiger Woods has agreed to plead to a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, avoiding the original charge of driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Florida.
The 50-year-old accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors in Martin County.
Woods was arrested following the March crash. He passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other substances.
He initially pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. Following the incident, Woods said he was seeking treatment and taking time to focus on his health.
Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said he was satisfied with the resolution of the case and insisted Woods had been treated like any other defendant.
“No one was injured in the crash, although Woods was forced to crawl through the passenger door to escape the vehicle after it rolled over.
Police body-camera footage released in April showed Woods in the aftermath of the crash. He appeared calm as he told officers: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom.”
Woods told police he had not consumed alcohol that day. He also acknowledged taking prescription medication earlier that morning, although the names of the medication were redacted from the footage.
Officers said they suspected his normal faculties had been impaired by an “unknown substance”. Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain.
After the incident, Woods acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his wellbeing.
The crash was the second time Woods had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Sports
Newcastle United Complete £51m Move for Lille Forward Fernandez-Pardo
Newcastle United have signed 21-year-old forward Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for a reported £51m fee.
The Belgium international flew to Tyneside on Monday night to undergo a medical before completing his move and signing a long-term contract with the Premier League club.
Fernandez-Pardo said he was “very proud to be at such a big club” after speaking with Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle.
“He really showed how much he wanted me to be here,” Fernandez-Pardo said.
The forward added that joining Newcastle made sense for his career development and that he had followed the club and was familiar with the atmosphere at St James’ Park.
“I’m still young, I’m still hungry, and that’s why I’m here,” he said. “I want to make that progress with Newcastle. I can’t wait to start the wonderful adventure here.”
Fernandez-Pardo was omitted from Lille’s squad for their 2-2 draw with Paris St-Germain last week and was instructed to train away from the first team while his future was resolved.
Newcastle had been tracking the forward for some time, with interest dating back to former manager Eddie Howe’s tenure. His age and versatility across the frontline also made him an attractive target as the club looked to strengthen their squad.
Fernandez-Pardo enjoyed an impressive campaign in Europe’s major five leagues last season. Among players aged 21 and under, he ranked second for big chances with 21, fifth for touches in the opposition box with 184 and seventh for combined goals and assists with 13.
Jaissle praised the youngster’s technical ability, explosiveness and willingness to take on defenders.
“Matias is a highly technical player with explosiveness in his game,” Jaissle said. “He can score and assist, he has courage, and he has the ability to take players on.”
The Newcastle boss added that the club was confident supporters would enjoy watching Fernandez-Pardo and said the coaching staff would work with him to further develop his game.
“We are excited to see him in a Newcastle United shirt,” Jaissle said.
Sports
Aaron Donald Comes Out of Retirement to Rejoin Los Angeles Rams
NFL legend Aaron Donald has come out of retirement to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams on a reported one-year, $20m deal.
The 35-year-old announced his retirement in March 2024 after a remarkable 10-season career, all of which he spent with the Rams.
Donald, selected 13th overall by Los Angeles in the 2014 NFL Draft, confirmed his return on social media with the message: “We back,” alongside a video featuring highlights from his career.
The defensive tackle played a key role in helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI in 2022. He is also one of only three players in NFL history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.
Donald finished his career with 117 sacks, including two in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. He became the fastest defensive tackle in NFL history to reach 100 sacks and earned eight All-Pro selections during his career.
His return gives the Rams one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation as they look to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
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