Capes transitioned to strongman contests in 1980, as well as the change marked the start of his famous status in toughness sports activities. He debuted on earth’s Strongest Person competition that 12 months, earning a bronze medal in his 1st outing and subsequent it up having a silver in 1981.

He found out his aptitude for shot set, a specialized sport that demands not just sheer strength but also perfected technique.

Noticing The person had a lot of budgies in his home, The 2 began to discuss the maintenance and care of birds in excess of a cup of tea. “It appeared a shame when, after the discussion ended, I quickly remembered what I needed to do,” Capes claimed.

He was previously acquainted with good results just before he began dominating the shot put arena, as in 1977 he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal for products and services on the Group in his capacity as being a policeman.

“I don't forget enjoying rugby in school and Dad coming above to tell me that he experienced received the whole world’s strongest male – but that I wasn’t to tell anyone because it wasn’t on television for your couple of months,” says Lewis.

His throwing good results experienced humble beginnings, even though, as he learnt how to elevate when working on the Lincolnshire farming fens alongside his father and 8 siblings where by he grew up, ahead of combining a police occupation along with his athletics triumphs, accompanied by another 10 years of achievement as a specialist strong male inside the nineteen eighties.

His publish-retirement endeavors highlight a lifestyle lived with enthusiasm, function, along with a steady push to lead and create a big difference in different fields.

Some would propose that not Substantially has transformed and Capes, who may have repeatedly held the official British shot set file for 51 several years, continues to be an encyclopedic and avid university student from the Activity. “It’s a bit slim, isn’t it?” he claims, examining what will be the smallest Excellent Britain squad in a Earth Athletics Championships considering that 2005.

He when threw a 5lb building brick 146ft – earning himself a location during the Guinness Book of Records. Tearing telephone directories in half was mentioned to get his occasion piece.

His measurement meant he was commonly pitted versus more read more mature opponents; invariably he beat them. By the top of 1966, aged seventeen, he was ranked 30th during the national listings.

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In 1988, the Queen produced a personal plea to Capes To participate in A different Video games soon after he missed a contest pursuing a dispute. He was explained to become a favourite of hers and agreed to take part.

Whilst he was instinctively drawn to all Actual physical activities, achievement was to begin with elusive for Capes in any sporting context. He was banned from playing for an area football workforce for your yr following hitting a referee during a match.

His progress resumed in 1976. Indoors, he set his European document of 20.98m and regained the ecu title. Outside, he boosted his Commonwealth file to 21.55m and on the Montreal Olympics he had the 3rd longest throw in the qualifying competition but in the ultimate he could muster only twenty.36m for sixth spot. It would be A further 4 yrs ahead of he would boost his very best mark again. Meanwhile, though, he gathered far more medals, which includes a 2nd gold on the 1978 Commonwealth Game titles.