The British Athletics Federation announced on Wednesday the death of Jeff Capps, who twice won the title of strongest man in the world and participated in the Olympic Games three times, at the age of 75.
Capps, who was born in Lincolnshire, won the gold medal in the shot put at the Commonwealth Championships in 1974 and 1978, and was crowned the world’s strongest man in 1983 and 1985.
Capps set the British shot put record with a distance of 68.21 meters in 1980, which has not been broken yet. He also won two gold medals, three silvers and a bronze during the previous decade at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.
The British Athletics Federation issued a statement saying: “The Federation is saddened to hear of the death of former British shot put athlete Geoff Capps.”
The federation’s statement, which was reported by the British news agency PA Media, added: “We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this time.”
The former policeman won the bronze medal at the World’s Strongest Man Championships in 1987 in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, 10 years after he won the bronze medal at the European Outdoor Athletics Championships.
The late athlete represented Britain at the Summer Olympics in 1972, 1976 and 1980, and achieved his best result when he finished fifth in the last Olympics he participated in, in Moscow.
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