Michael Howard

The three-times Olympic fencer Michael Howard served in the British Army for many years. He was originally an instructor with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) and later served in the Royal Pioneer Corps.

Howard fenced for The Army, and in 1953 won the épée title at the Army Fencing Championships. That same year he was also the junior épée champion and finished third in the British Modern Pentathlon Championship behind the winner George Norman, also of the APTC

Although he never won a senior British fencing title, Howard finished second to Allan Jay in the 1960 British Épée Championship. He was selected for his first Olympics in 1956 when he competed in the team and individual épée, and was also a reserve for the GB modern pentathlon team. Howard won his only Olympic medal at Rome in 1960 when he took silver with the épée team. A third Olympics followed in 1964 and, despite no more Olympic medals, he won a team épée bronze at the 1957 World Championships in Paris, a team épée gold and individual silver at the 1958 Cardiff British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and another team épée at the Perth Games four years later.

Howard later became president of the Army Fencing Union and was also a fencing judge.