Robert Howard was born July 8, 1996, in
Alexander City, Alabama, as the son of Scott and Beverly and Bob Howard.[4] Howard attended
Benjamin Russell High School and swam for Auburn Aquatics. He was a two-time USA Scholastic All-American in 2013 and 2014 and swam collegiately at
The University of Alabama from 2015 to 2019.
College career
2016
As a freshman for the
Tide, Howard placed 12th in the 100-yard
freestyle (43.78), 15th in the 50-yard
freestyle (19.90) and 30th in the 200-yard
freestyle (1.37.74) at the 2016 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships. He was also a member of the 3rd place 400-yard
freestyle relay.[5] At the
2016 Men's NCAA Division I Championships, Howard contributed to the sixth place 400-yard
freestyle relay.
2017
At the 2017 SEC Championships, he improved his rankings finishing seventh in the 100-yard
freestyle (42.96), ninth in the 50-yard
freestyle (19.52), and 17th in the 200-yard
freestyle (1:35.17).[6][7] Howard was also part of three relay teams: the runner-up 400-yard, third place 200-yard, and fifth place 800-yard
freestyle. As a sophomore at the
2017 Men's NCAA Division I Championships, he was part of the 200-yard and 400-yard
freestyle relays which finished fifth and ninth, as well as of the 22nd place 800-yard
freestyle relay.[8]
2018
Howard had a breakthrough season during his junior year by placing third in the 50-yard
freestyle (19.14), fifth in the 100-yard
freestyle (42.58) and ninth in the 200-yard
freestyle (1:34.61) at the 2018 SEC Championships.[9] At the
2018 Men's NCAA Division I Championships, he finished seventh in the 50-yard
freestyle (19.09), 10th in the 100-yard
freestyle (41.81), and 23rd in the 200-yard
freestyle (1:34.42). Howard also contributed to the seventh place 400-yard
freestyle relay, ninth place 200-yard medley relay, 10th place 200-yard
freestyle relay and 11th place 400-yard medley relay teams.
2019
During his last season at Alabama, Howard had his highest finishes at both SEC and NCAA Championships. He gained the victory in both the 50 (18.74) and 100-yard
freestyle (41.57), and placed fourth in the 200
freestyle (1:32.76) at the 2019 SEC Championships. He was also part of the first place 200-yard medley and
freestyle relays, both setting conference and pool records, and contributed to the runner-up 400-yard medley relay team. He finished his college career placing third in the 50-yard
freestyle (18.80), fifth in the 100-yard
freestyle (41.75) and 19th in the 200-yard
freestyle (1:33.37) at the
2019 Men's NCAA Division I Championships.[10] Howard was also a member of the NCAA champion 200-yard medley relay team which set a pool record, the sixth place 200-yard
freestyle relay as well as of the ninth place 400-yard medley and
freestyle relays.