Geoff Capes (centre) with his grandson Lawson (right), called up to the England U18 team, his other grandson Donovan and their father Lewis Photo: John Robertson for the Telegraph
The 15-year-old grandson of legendary strongman Geoff Capes has won his first international shot put challenge at the under-18s in Sweden next month.
His grandfather Geoff was the regular holder of the British adult shot put record for the last 52 years, and is a former European and Commonwealth champion, as well as twice the world's strongest man, a six-time Highland Games champion and a world title holder of budgerigar breeding. .
In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph last summer, Geoff praised Lawson for his great achievements and he has now been selected in the 15-man England hurling squad that will compete in the Vaxjo International U18 category at the U20 tournament in Sweden next month.
Lawson became the fifth Capes player to become an international shot putter, following Geoff, his father (and Geoff's son) Lewis, his aunt (and Geoff's daughter) Emma and older brother Donavan.
Family History @LincsThrowsAc https://t.co/Pf8ZhUnUvY pic.twitter.com/mhftwvItg0
— PJ Vazel (@pjvazel) January 15, 2023 < p>He is the youngest in his family to reach this milestone: Geoff became an England cap a few weeks older in 1964, when he was also 15 years old. Geoff went on to become an England international. Britain's most successful athlete, competed in three Olympic Games before focusing on the world of strongman after the Moscow Games in 1980.
Lawson's older brother Donovan also won the English Schools title in 2019 and is currently studying in Colorado to the USA on an athletics scholarship.
“It was a really nice surprise,” Lewis said of Lawson's call. up. “It’s great that Athletics England has recognized the hard work and dedication he has put in at such a young age.”
Donavan and Lawson both learned the sport in the shot put ring that Geoff built himself at their home village of Stoke Rochford.
Both brothers are now coached by their father Lewis, himself a former shot putter and American footballer, and they have photographs and memorabilia from their grandfather's career displayed throughout the barn , where they train with weights.
The common family thread is the speed and timing of rare explosive power. Lawson can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds. His grandfather once dropped to 11.2 seconds and, even when he weighed 23 stone, could still run the 200 meters in 23.7 seconds, which was fast enough to beat Brendan Foster in the race.
From his grandchildren – Jeff. proudly told The Telegraph: “Donovan will be fine, but Lawson? Take care of this bastard.”
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