Andrew's Story
1964 –
Andrew Cooper rowed at number 3 in the Australian eight which finished fifth at Seoul 1988. Also in that boat, were Mike McKay (number 4) and James Tomkins (number 6). The trio had been in the same seats of the boat that won at the 1986 World Championships.
By the 1991 World Championships, Cooper had joined McKay, Tomkins and Nick Green in a coxless four that duly annexed the world title. That crew, known as the Oarsome Foursome, took all before it, including the hopes of the nation, and won the gold medal on Lake Banyoles, the rowing venue for Barcelona 1992.
In 1995, in the lead-up to Atlanta 1996, Cooper retired from the crew and was replaced by Drew Ginn. The ‘new’ Oarsome Foursome, rowing in a boat named ‘Andrew Cooper’, again won Olympic gold in 1996. Cooper, who in 1987 had received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to rowing, was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999.
