Alexander Schowtka was a competitive swimmer who was born in Venezuela but grew up in Ecuador. Until 1981 he swam for the junior national team of Ecuador before he went to study computer science in Hamburg and applied for West German citizenship on the basis of his German parents.
Schowtka then represented West Germany at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. With the 4x200 metres freestyle relay team he won the silver medal and with both other relays finished an unfortunate fourth. Over 100 metres freestyle he was eliminated in the heats. At World Championships he won two relay silver medals and at European Championships four relay gold medals. Schowtka won 100 metres freestyle national titles in 1984 and 1985.