Murdock, Margaret L. (Thompson)
Shooting
b. Aug. 25, 1942, Topeka, KS
When Murdock shot a score of 391 to win a gold medal in the small-bore rifle competition at the 1967 Pan-American Games, it was an historic occasion, though little noted by the media. Her score was a world record and it marked the first time a woman ever surpassed the men's record in any sport. She also won the gold medal in small-bore rifle at the 1975 Pan-American Games.
At the 1976 Olympics, Murdock and Lanny Bassham of the U. S. tied for first place in the small-bore three-position event. After examining the targets, judges determined that Bassham's shooting had been slightly better and they decided to award him the gold medal, with Murdock taking the silver. Bassham was unhappy with the decision. At the medal ceremony he put his arms around Murdock and shared the victory platform with her while the national anthem was played.
A 1965 graduate of Kansas State University, Murdock is a registered nurse who specializes as an anesthetist. She won the national women's small-bore three-position and prone position championships in 1969 and the prone position title in 1972. She also won the small-bore standing position event at the world championships in 1970, when she was four months pregnant.