James Arthur Gardiner (October 25, 1930 – April 19, 2016) was an American rower who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, and died on April 19, 2016, at his home in Seattle, Washington.

At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia Gardiner and his partner Pat Costello won the silver medal in the double sculls event.

Gardiner also won a gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games.

In 1957 Gardiner took fourth place in the European Rowing Championships in Duisburg Germany.