He competed during the transition time, when breaststroke swimmers were allowed to combine and swimming the butterfly arm stroke with the usual frog kick.

[3] During his career, Higgins won 11 national titles and set 10 world records in breaststroke and medley events.

[6] Higgins was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and joined the local Olneyville Boys' Swimming Club.

He continued to swim competitively, while serving as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida, as well as on aircraft carriers and at naval air stations.

[4][6] In his 70th, Higgins continued to swim 1.5–2 km in a pool almost daily, despite suffering from arthritis and having an artificial knee.