Notable Gentle Giant Athletes

Founded by former collegiate rower, Larry O’Toole, Gentle Giant has always relied on athletes from diverse backgrounds to fill our ranks. Since its inception, Gentle Giant has found that current and former athletes make the best movers. These individuals possess the strength, stamina, and attitude that it takes to turn a challenging job into something rewarding; and because of that our customers reap all the benefit.

Some Gentle Giant athletes have accomplished incredible success in the arena of competition. We are proud to have employed everyone from professional football players to Olympic gold medalists. Below is a list of some of the most notable.

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ATHLETE
SPORT
COMPETITION
RESULT
Tom Kiefer                                        
Rowing
USA M4+, 1984 Olympics
Silver Medal
Tom Darling                                     
Rowing
USA M8+, 1984 Olympics
Silver Medal
Doug Burden                                     
Rowing
USA M4+, 1986 World Championships
Bronze Medal
Vladimir Banjanac                      
Rowing
Yugoslavia M4+, 1988 Olympics
Mike Porterfield                             
Rowing
USA M4-, 1991 World Championships
Silver Medal
John Moore                                       
Rowing
USA M2+, 1991 & 1993 World Championships
Jeff McLaughlin                                
Rowing
USA M4-, 1992 Olympics
Silver Medal
Ed Bell                                                  
Rowing
USA M4x, 1993 World Championships
Chris Swan
Rowing
USA M4+, 1994 World Championships
Silver Medal
Jon Brown                                           
Rowing
USA M8+, 1994 World Championships
Gold Medal
Dave Lefebvre                                  
Rowing
USA M2+, 1996 World Championships
Jamie Koven                                      
Rowing
USA M1x, 1997 World Championships
Gold Medal
Dave Sanderson                              
Rowing
USA LM4x, 1999 World Championships
Matt Kalapinski
Football
NFL Miami Dolphins Fullback 
Elena Menegakis                             
Rowing
USA W4-, 2001-2002 World Championships
Ian Coveny
Rowing
USA 2000-2001 World Championships
Judah Rome
Rowing
USA LM4x, 2003 Pan-Am Games
Bronze Medal
Wade Winkler                                 
Hockey
European Professional Hockey, 2003-2007
Wyatt Allen                                       
Rowing
USA M8+, 2004 Olympics
Gold Medal
Chris Jarvis                                         
Rowing
Canadian M2-, 2004 Olympics
Sean Wolf                                           
Rowing
USA LM2-, 2001; LM4x, 2005
Diamond Ferri
Football
NFL and CFL Defensive Back (Giants, Falcons, Cardinals)
Pat Godfrey                                       
Rowing
USA M2+, 2006 & 2007 World Championships
Shane O’Mara
Rowing
USA M4x, 2005 & 2006 World Championships
Dan Walsh                                          
Rowing
USA M8+, 2008 Olympics
Bronze Medal
Jeff Forrester                                    
Rowing
USA LM8+, 2007 World Championships
Matt Muffelman                              
Rowing
USA LM8+, 2008 World Championships
Gold Medal
Matt Cooney                                     
Baseball
Boston Red Sox Single A Catcher, 2008-2009
Hilary Saeger                                     
Rowing
USA LW4x, 2009, 2011, 2013 World Championships
Silver Medal
Monty Mack                                      
Basketball
European Professional Basketball, 2001-2011
Will Miller                                          
Rowing
USA M8+, 2012 Olympics
Andrew Hashway                           
Rowing
USA LM8+, 2012 World Championships
Katy Augustyn                                   
Rugby
USA 2014 & 2017 World Cup teams
Ceslovas Kucinskas
Basketball
British Professional Basketball League
Sabi Varga
Ballet
Boston Ballet – Soloist
Dominique Powell
Basketball 
WABA Cyclones