 Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase

The men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, had an entry list of 33 competitors, with three qualifying heats (33 runners) and two semifinals (26) before the final (13) took place on Friday September 30, 1988.From the gun Francesco Panetta went out hard, at world record pace the first few laps.