Bradford ("Brad") Paul Cooper (born July 19, 1954 in Singapore) was an Australian freestyle and backstroke swimmer of the 1970s, who won a gold medal in the 400 m freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He is the only Australian to have won an Olympic gold medal after finishing second, after the International Olympic Committee stripped American swimmer Rick DeMont for taking a banned asthma drug. A breaststroke swimmer Swimming is a technique to move unaided through water. ... The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Freestyle is one of the official swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. However, it is technically not a style, as there are very few regulations about the way freestyle has to be swum. ... Backstroke swimming (amateur competition, non-optimal style) Backstroke is one of the three swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. ... The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ... Munich (German: München, (pronounced listen) is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria. ... The International Olympic Committee is an organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. Its membership is 202 National Olympic Committees. ...

The second of three brothers, Cooper moved with his family to Rockhampton, Queensland at the age of three. His father was the proprietor of a water-ski centre, and arranged for him to have swimming lessons at the age of six. Cooper had a disrupted childhood education, as his family moved between [[Queensland] and New South Wales to change swimming coaches, attending no less than five different primary schools and nine different high schools in the process. Amongst his many coaches in his early years was John Konrads, himself a prolific world-record breaking swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. In 1969, at the national junior championships, Cooper came second in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke. Mayor Margaret Strelow Area 187 km² Population 59,120 (2003) (ABS) Time zone UTC + 10 Latitude Longitude 23°22. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus Viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

Cooper was then sent by his father to board and train in Sydney with Don Talbot. This paid dividends at the 1971 Australian Championships, when he won both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke, the latter in an Australian record time. He also came second in the 400 m freestyle behind fellow Talbot swimmer Graham Windeatt, surpassing the previous Australian record. This earnt Cooper selection for a national team to tour Europe for competitive experience. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, and since its opening it has become an international symbol of Sydney Sydney (pronounced ) is the state capital of New South Wales, located on the east coast of Australia. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Graham Windeatt (born August 5, 1954) was an Australian long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1970s, who won a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle at the 1972 Munich Olympics. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ...

In January 1972, Cooper hit the headlines when he broke the 800 m freestyle world record. Within a month, at the Australian Championships in Brisbane, he won the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle events and the 100 m and 200 m backstroke, showing versatility over a large range of distances. This included a world record in the 400 m freestyle, while his 1500 m freestyle time was only 0.6s outside the world record. He was went to Munich as one of the favourites in both the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle events. January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the state of Queensland, Australia. ...

In the 400 m event, Cooper contested the race with DeMont and West Germany's Werner Lampe who attacked immediately. In the end Lampe faded, and DeMont touched just 0.01s ahead of Cooper. DeMont was awarded the gold medal. Both then easily qualified for the 1500 m freestyle final, but news came through afterwards that DeMont had been disqualified from the 400 m and the 1500 m final, due to a positive test for ephedrine after American officials haad forgotten to register his asthma drug Marax. The International Olympic Committee initially decided to leave the gold medal vacant, until a protest from the Australian delegation resulted in Cooper being awarded the gold medal. Ephedrine HCL (EPH) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a decongestant and to treat hypotension associated with regional anaesthesia. ... In demonology Morax is a Great Earl and President of Hell, having thirty-six (thirty-two other authors) legions of demons under his command. ... The International Olympic Committee is an organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. Its membership is 202 National Olympic Committees. ...

The controversy appeared to affect Cooper in the 1500 m freestyle final. He finished seventh, twenty seconds slower than his time in the heats, and more than hald a minute slower than his personal best. His performance in the 200 m backstroke placed him fourth, after lowering his personal best by three seconds, although it was two seconds slower than the bronze medal winner. He also placed fifth in the 4x200 m freestyle relay with Windeatt, Michael Wenden and Robert Nay. Michael Wenden is a former Australian Olympics swimming champion. ...

After the Olympics, Talbot left to become a coach in Canada, forcing Cooper to return to Brisbane to train with Harry Gallagher. In 1973, he was the Australian Champion in the 200 m, 400 m and 800 m freestyle, and the 100 m and 200 m backstroke. However, he continued to switch coaches throughout the year, also training with Allan Wood and Tony Fraser. He went on the compete at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, where media interest surrounded his 400 m and 1500 m frestyle races against DeMont. In the 400 m, both broke the world record and broke the four minute barrier for the first time, with DeMont finishing ahead of Cooper. Cooper also finished behind DeMont in the 1500 m, but the race was won by Australian Stephen Holland, who broke his own world record. Cooper also won a silver medal as part of the the 4x200 m freestyle relay. Cooper was then awarded a swimming scholarship to Miami University, but was unable to enrol as he had not finished his secondary education in Australia. Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the state of Queensland, Australia. ... For other uses, see Belgrade (disambiguation). ... Miami University, founded in 1809, is the second oldest public college west of the Allegheny Mountains. ...

At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, he was upset in the 100 m backstroke by fellow Australian Mark Tonelli and finished in third, but set a new Australian record in the 200 m backstroke to win gold. In the freestyle events, he managed a silver in the 400 m, three seconds outside his best, and finished last in the 1500 m freestyle, one minute slower than his best. He then won the 400 m freestyle and 200 m backstroke at the Australian Championships, and then retired, saying that "I was sick of the daily grind". The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand. ... Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the third largest urban area in the country. ... Mark Tonelli (born April 13, 1957) was an Australian backstroke swimmer of the 1970s and 1980s, who won a gold in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a makeshift butterfly swimmer. ...

Cooper later worked in periods in the newspaper industry as a journalist, as well as becoming a swimming coach and running a swimming pool.

References

• Andrews, Malcolm (2000). Australia at the Olympic Games.
• Howell, Max (1986). Aussie Gold.