Margaret Murdock

Margaret Murdock was one of the first female athletes to compete successfully against men. Her first titles came as Margaret Thompson at the 1967 Pan-American Games, with two golds in smallbore shooting. Her 391 total that year in the kneeling position was a new world record – for men or women – the first time any woman had set an internationally recognized world record above the men’s mark – in any sport. Margaret Thompson Murdock won several titles at the 1970 World Championships in 300 metre free rifle standing, the women’s standard rifle 3x20 event with an individual world record, helping the US team win that event with another world record, and won further team golds in the 300 metre free rifle 3x40 and 300 metre free rifle standing events.

At the 1973 Championships of the Americas in Mexico City, Murdock won team golds in the 300 m free rifle 3x40 and the 50 m free rifle 3x40, helping the team set four world records. Murdock won further World Championships in 1974 in the women’s 50 m standard rifle prone, tying the world record, and helping the team win that title; and winning team titles in 50 m free rifle 3x40 and 50 m free rifle standing. At the 1975 Pan American Games she won the 50 m free rifle 3x40 event, helped the USA win the 50 meter free rifle 3x40 and 50 meter free rifle prone team events, and set another open individual world record in the 50m free rifle standing event

At the 1976 Olympics Murdock tied for first place with Lanny Bassham in the smallbore, three position event, but on the examination of the targets, Bassham was awarded first place and Murdock was relegated to the silver medal. Bassham gallantly asked Margaret Murdock to share the victory platform with him as the flag was raised and the anthem played – and rightly so. Margaret Murdock graduated from Kansas State in 1965 and Washburn University School of Nursing in 1977. She later became a nurse anaesthetist, in addition to being a competitive shooter, housewife, and mother.