Gary Piantedosi

Gary Piantedosi rowed at MIT, where he trained as a mechanical engineer. His college crews finished second in 1973-75 at both the Eastern Sprints and the IRAs (Intercollegiate Rowing Association). Piantedosi was a spare for the US team at the 1974 World Championships and raced at the 1975 Pan American Games, placing fourth in the coxless pairs. Piantedosi stopped competing in major events after the 1976 Olympics, but continued to row in masters events and open ocean events.

He stayed in the sport, designing and manufacturing equipment for rowing, merging his love of the sport with his love of woodworking. He designed Piantedosi Oars made of Sitka spruce. He later worked with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital to develop rowing equipment for athletes with disabilities. Piantedosi designed and patented the Row Wing, which converted any canoe or skiff into a sliding-seat rowing boat. He founded Row-Right.com, a division of Alden, and became the general manager of Alden Rowing.