In 1986 the Australian Eight team, including Andrew Cooper, won Gold in the World Championships. However, in 1988 at the Seoul Olympics, the team could only manage fifth. Cooper's teammates on that occasion were James Galloway, Hamish McLachlan, Mike McKay, Mark Doyle, James Tomkins, Ion Popa, Steve Evans, and Dale Caterson (cox).
In 1991 Cooper was part of the Australian coxless four that won Gold at the World Championships, along with Nick Green, Mike McKay, and James Tomkins. The same line-up repeated this achievement the following year at the Barcelona Olympics.
In the 1995 World Championships, the World and Olympic Champion team finished fifth.
In 1999 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2010 Cooper was inducted as a member of the Rowing Victoria Hall of Fame.
