Francesco Panetta (born 10 January 1963 in Siderno) is a former Italian long-distance runner, who won several medals at international championships in the 1980s. Career Panetta's greatest achievement was the victory at the 1987 World Championships in the 3000m steeplechase in Rome. In the previous year Panetta won a silver medal at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart, only narrowly losing to the East German runner Hagen Melzer. At the 1988 Olympic Games, Panetta finished ninth in the 3000m steeplechase. Panetta won a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1990 European Championships in Split. Throughout his career, Panetta set several Italian records (including 3000m and 10000m). In 1987 he ran the 3000m steeplechase in 8:08.57 min which is the current Italian national record. See also Italian all-time top lists - 3000 metres steeplechase Italian all-time top lists - 5000 metres Italian all-time top lists - 10000 metres FIDAL Hall of Fame External links 1963 births Living people People from Siderno Italian male cross country runners Italian male long-distance runners Italian male steeplechase runners Olympic athletes of Italy Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics World Athletics Championships athletes for Italy World Athletics Championships medalists European Athletics Championships medalists World Athletics Championships winners Sportspeople from the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria