Priya Cooper

Priya Cooper

Cooper in 1996
Personal information
Full name	Priya Naree Cooper
Nationality	Australian
Born	(1974-10-02) 2 October 1974 (age 49) South Perth, Western Australia
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke, individual medley, freestyle, butterfly
Club	Swan Hills Swimming Club
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 9 3 4 World Championships (LC) 8 2 0 Total 17 5 4 Representing  Australia Women's swimming Paralympic Games 1992 Barcelona 50 m freestyle 1992 Barcelona 100 m freestyle 1992 Barcelona 200 m individual medley 1996 Atlanta 100 m freestyle 1996 Atlanta 400 m freestyle 1996 Atlanta 100 m backstroke 1996 Atlanta 200 m individual medley 1996 Atlanta 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 2000 Sydney 400 m freestyle 1992 Barcelona 100 m backstroke 1992 Barcelona 400 m freestyle 1996 Atlanta 50 m freestyle 1996 Atlanta 100 m butterfly S8 2000 Sydney 100 m freestyle S8 2000 Sydney 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34 pts 2000 Sydney 4 × 100 m medley relay 34 pts IPC Swimming World Championships 1994 Valletta 50 m freestyle S8 1994 Valletta 100 m freestyle S8 1994 Valletta 400 m freestyle S8 1994 Valletta 200 m individual medley SM7 1994 Valletta 100 m backstroke S8 1998 Christchurch 100 m freestyle S8 1998 Christchurch 400 m freestyle S8 1998 Christchurch 200 m individual medley SM7 1998 Christchurch 100 m backstroke S8 1998 Christchurch 4 × 100 m freestyle relay Open

Priya Naree Cooper, OAM (born 2 October 1974) is an Australian world champion disabled swimmer, winning nine Paralympic gold medals as well as world records and world championships. She competed in the Australian swimming team at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Paralympics with an S8 classification. She was twice the co-captain of the Australian Paralympic team, including at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, and carried the Australian flag at the closing ceremonies for the 1992 and 1996 Summer Paralympics. Cooper has cerebral palsy and spends much of her time in a wheelchair. She attended university, working on a course in health management. After she ended her competitive Paralympic career, she became a commentator, and covered the swimming events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.