Malcolm Douglas Cooper, MBE, (20 December 1947 – 9 June 2001) was a British sport shooter and founder of Accuracy International. Competing in ISSF 50-metre and 300-metre rifle events, he dominated his events for several years, becoming the first shooter to win the Olympic 50-metre three-position rifle event twice. He held or shared five world records in 300-metre rifle events.
Sports shooting career
Cooper learned to shoot at school in the UK and New Zealand. He also shot and practised at HMS Collingwood, a naval training establishment at Fareham in Hampshire, alongside Andy (Dusty) Miller, the 1968 Far East Services small-bore individual champion. He qualified to join the British Free Rifle Club in 1969. He was then selected for the British team to the 1972 Summer Olympics, where he finished 12th in the 300 m three-position rifle event and 18th in the 50 m three-position rifle.[1]
In 1977, Cooper won the European Championships in both 50 m and 300 m three-position events, with his 300 m standing score equalling the world record.[1][2]
Having won most of his matches in 1980, the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott prevented Cooper from competing in Moscow, where he was a favourite to win a medal.[1]
Cooper won gold medals in the three-positions event at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.[4] The 1988 victory came despite his rifle being seriously damaged two days before the match. Working with the USSR armourer, he repaired the stock in time to compete.[5]
Cooper represented England at four Commonwealth Games between 1974 and 1990, winning twelve medals: four gold, five silver, and three bronze.[6][7][8][9][10]
