Malcolm Cooper
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Douglas Cooper, MBE
, (20 December 1947 – 9 June 2001) was a British sport shooter
and founder of Accuracy International
. , he is the only shooter to win defend the gold medal in the Olympic 50 metre rifle three positions
event.
Cooper was born in 1947 in Camberley
and learned to shoot small bore rifles whilst attending Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand
, where his father was stationed with the Royal Navy
: he subsequently attended the Royal Hospital School
. He started shooting competitively in 1970. In 1978 he established his own rifle making company Accuracy International
. He won gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
and at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
(both in the three positions event). In 1986 he was also world champion in 300 m Standard Rifle
, a non-Olympic rifle discipline in which he claimed several European and World titles, as well as holding the World record for a period.
Cooper died in June 2001 after an eight month battle with cancer. He died at his home in Eastergate
, West Sussex
.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, (20 December 1947 – 9 June 2001) was a British sport shooter
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
and founder of Accuracy International
Accuracy International
Accuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England and best known for producing the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles...
. , he is the only shooter to win defend the gold medal in the Olympic 50 metre rifle three positions
50 metre rifle three positions
50 metre rifle three positions is an International Shooting Sport Federation event, a miniature version of 300 metre rifle three positions. It consists of the prone, standing and kneeling positions, fired in that order, with 3×40 shots for men and 3×20 shots for women...
event.
Cooper was born in 1947 in Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
and learned to shoot small bore rifles whilst attending Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where his father was stationed with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
: he subsequently attended the Royal Hospital School
Royal Hospital School
The Royal Hospital School, , is a British co-educational independent boarding school with naval traditions. It admits pupils from age 11 to 18 through Common Entrance or the school's own exam...
. He started shooting competitively in 1970. In 1978 he established his own rifle making company Accuracy International
Accuracy International
Accuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England and best known for producing the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles...
. He won gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
(both in the three positions event). In 1986 he was also world champion in 300 m Standard Rifle
300 m Standard Rifle
300 metre standard rifle is one of the ISSF shooting events. It is similar to 300 metre rifle but there are more restrictions on the rifle . The course of fire is a three positions program of 3x20 shots...
, a non-Olympic rifle discipline in which he claimed several European and World titles, as well as holding the World record for a period.
Cooper died in June 2001 after an eight month battle with cancer. He died at his home in Eastergate
Eastergate
Eastergate is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. It is located five miles east of Chichester...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.