Antonio Garzoni Provenzani became a prominent Italian rower thanks to coach Antonio Ghiardello, who made him part of the Canottieri Aniene´s crew in the 1930s. In 1931 he was a member of the coxed fours that won the Italian title. Provenzani followed that with the European title at Paris. He switched to the coxless fours in 1932 and the Aniene crew went to that year´s Los Angeles Olympics after beating Canottieri Pullino in the Olympic trial. Despite being the fastest qualifiers in Los Angeles, the Italian four had to settle for the bronze medal behind Great Britain and Germany on the waters at Long Beach, California. The success led to Provenzani and his team-mates receiving honors from Mussolini and Prince Umberto II of Savoia, among others.
Provenzani later moved to the eights, in which Italian supremacy at that time belonged to the Livorno crew of Scarronzoni, the 1932 Olympic silver medalists. Provenzani and his Aniene team-mates, however, won some prestigious races including the Italian title at Castel Gandolfo, which ended Scarronzoni´s run of five consecutive wins. This victory took Aniene to the 1934 European Championships at the famous Rotsee lake in Lucerne. The Aniene eight won the bronze medal behind Hungary and Denmark. It was the last medal of Provenzani´s career. For his sporting merits Provenzani and was appointed a life member of Canottieri Aniene. He died in Roma in February 1989, at just over 82 years-of-age.
Italy