Sandor PROKOPP

Born in present-day Košice - then Kassa, Hungary - Sándor Prokopp moved to Budapest as a child. As a law student, he won a Hungarian university championship in rifle shooting, and was promptly sent to London for the 1908 Olympics. He didn't do very well there, placing 43rd out of 50. His return at the 1912 Olympics ended very differently. Still a complete unknown, Prokopp claimed the title amidst the American and Swedish favorites. 18-year-old Swedish schoolboy Nils Romander, who had the lead with one shot to go, became too nervous and missed his final shot, leaving Prokopp, one of six shooters to hit 50 out of 50 in the second stage, with the title. Prokopp, who would never win a World Championship medal, would return to the Olympics again in 1924 (Hungary was barred from the 1920 Games), but these Games were as unmemorable as the 1908 ones. Prokopp remained active in the sport, writing about the sport and training youngsters. He had also earned a law doctorate, and he took various civil service posts in and around Budapest; the last 10 years in office, he managed the legal affairs of the Budapest road and sewage departments.