- See Less -Famiglietti won his first national 3,000m steeplechase title since 2002 at the 2008 Olympic Trials in bold, front-running form. Famiglietti took the lead early in the final and ran alone throughout the race, running 8:16 pace for all but the final two laps. Although he slowed somewhat in the final 800, "Fam" won easily in 8:20.24. Famiglietti ran a season’s best in the opening round at the Olympic Games when he clocked a personal best 8:17.34 (bettering his previous PR of 8:17.91 from 2004), which also was the fastest time by an American in 2008. Known mostly for his prowess in the steeplechase, Famiglietti’s 2007 season was highlighted by his 5,000m runner-up finish at Mt. SAC on April 13 in the year’s second-fastest time by an American of 13:11.93, which is the fastest time by an American ever on U.S. soil. Famiglietti’s 2006 season was highlighted by personal best performances in the 1,500 meters (3:35.83) and at 10,000 meters (27:37.74). He posted a then personal steeple best with his runner-up finish of 8:17.91 at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Famiglietti made his breakthrough in 2000, improving his personal best by more than 17 seconds and placing seventh at the Olympic Trials. He headed into the 2001 GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the fastest time by an American in 2001 and came away with second place, a personal-best time, and a berth on Team USA for the World Championships. His victory at the 2001 World University Games is the first international title by an American in the steeplechase since John Gregorek captured the WUG title in 1991. While in Beijing, he cut his hair into a mohawk and bought a bicycle so he could travel around the city. He gave the bike to some children before he left for home…was a psychology major at Tennessee but has no plans to practice psychotherapy: “I’ve got to figure myself out first”…is an artist, with a particular interest in abstract expressionism. Famiglietti has a quotation from the 1980s New York graffiti artist Basquiat (aka “Samo”) tattooed on his forearm…has an interest in Eastern religions.
2008: 13th at Olympic Games (8:31.21)...Olympic Trials champion (8:20.24)… 3rd in opening round Heat 2 at Olympic Games (8:17.34 PR, U.S. Leader)…ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:17.34.
2007:4th at USA Outdoor Championships steeple (8:27.64)…USA 8 km champion (22:35)…1st at adidas Track Classic 3,000m (7:41.27)…2nd at Mt. SAC 5,000m (13:11.93PR)…ranked #6 in steeplechase, #5 at 3,000m & #10 at 5,000m in the U.S. by T&FN…bests of 8:27.64 & 7:41.27.
2006:4th at AT&T USA Outdoors 5,000m (28:27.73)…U.S. k km champion (13:50.1)...3rd at Stanford (27:37.74)…3rd at Reebok Grand Prix (3:55.71)…8th at Stockholm (8:24.41)…7th at Rieti (3:35.83PR)… 5th at Linz (8:19.77)… 9th at Roverto (13:24.47PR)…ranked #2 U.S. in steeple, #5 U.S. at 1,500m by T&FN…bests of 3:35.83, 8:19.77, 13:24.47, 27:37.74.
2005: 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:20.49)6th in opening round at World Outdoor Champs (8:21.84)...1st in at adidas Track Classic (8:25.16) 1st at meet in Columbus (8:20.04)...2nd at Rieti (8:19.46)...best of 8:19.46
2004: 2nd at Olympic Trials (8:17.91PR)...8th in opening round at Olympic Games (8:31.59); 1st in 1500m at Sea Ray Relays (3:43.38)1st at Penn Relays (8:25.02)7th in 3000m at adidas Oregon (7:50.70)14th in 5000m at Mt. Sac (13:38.29)ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN bests of 8:17.91, 7:50.70 & 13:38.29.
2003: 3rd at Pan Am Games (8:40.22)best of 8:31.03 in opening round at USA Outdoors...ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN.
2002: USA Outdoor steeple champ (8:19.07); 4th at USA Indoors 3 km (7:59.15)4th at World Cup (8:32.27)13th at USA 4 km XC (11:47)4th at Gresham (8:21.05 ); ran 8:23.30 in Monacoran 8:24.49 in Stockholm ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN best of 8:19.07.
2001: World University Games champ (8:21.97); 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:22.68)...4th at US indoor 3,000m (7:59.41)...11th in opening round at World Outdoors (8:44.54)10th in 4 km at USA XC Winter Nationals; 3rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic (8:23.20)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:21.00 in Stockholm.
2000: 7th, Olympic Trials (8:25.37) ...2nd SEC Outdoors 4th, NCAA Outdoors (8:42.49) best of 8:25.37.
1999: 8th in heat, USA Outdoors (8:42.58)... 6th at NCAA Outdoors (8:50.11)...best of 8:42.58.
1998: Southern Conference champion in steeple and 5 km...11th at SEC XC...75th at NCAA XC...best of 8:52.12.
1997: Southern Conference XC runner of the year runner-up.
1996: Southern Conference freshman of year in XC
Fam talks about transition in 2009
Fam's a serious artist (painter) and consistently considers what he's giving to others with what he does. He gives an example of how such an attitude can be more than a pose for a pro runner when he says in this interview that he'd like to pace other runners to help them have a great race.
The tattoo on his arm is a clue to this aspect of his thinking. It reads “Plush/Safe He Think—Samo.” (Samo was the graffiti "tag" of the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat; it's an abbreviation of "same old .") Here's Fam's explanation:
"I'm a big fan of Basquiat. He was a fantastic painter, but also an artist and poet with great insight into life in American society. My tattoo is taken from graffiti he used to tag around Soho in New York City in the early ’80s under the name Samo. The meaning is open to individual interpretation.
For me, it has to do with American ideals and the current contemporary mindset. Success these days seems to be measured in dollars and cents. Great emphasis is put on material wealth and lifestyle. For instance, when people ask me what I do for a career, and I tell them I'm an athlete, the first question out of their mouths is, “How much money do you make?” Too often on television the ideal image is of someone driving a Rolls Royce, covered in diamonds, getting into exclusive parties, signing autographs and then returning home to their mansion by the lake, impervious to everything. “Plush/Safe He Think” is something of a commentary on that: You may have the Rolls, you may have the diamonds and even the house, but if that mansion is in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina can flood that lake and take it all back. You'll have nothing; you're left with who you are. How do you measure your success then?
Good luck in 2009, Fam.
I think Fam majored in Asian Studies and Supply Chain Mgmt, in fact. I saw someone asked that, and I happened to know the answer. I know other stuff, so just ask.
hells yes!