Francesco Panetta

Francesco Panetta
Personal information
Nationality	Italian
Born	10 January 1963 (age 63); Siderno, Italy
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Country	Italy
Sport	Athletics
Events	Long distance running; Steeplechase
Club	Pro Patria Milano
Coached by	Giorgio Rondelli
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	3000 m st: 8:08.57 (1987); 5000 m: 13:06.76 (1994); 10000 m: 27:24.16 (1989);
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Italy
World Championships
European Championships

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.