SEOUL, South Korea -- Gary Fanelli, a 37-year-old marathon runner from Philadelphia, will march in Saturday's Olympic opening ceremony as part of a six-athlete American Samoa Olympic team.
It could only happen to Gary Fanelli, one of track and field's all-time free spirits.
Fanelli has run marathons all over the world, dressed in various costumes -- as one of the Blues Brothers, as a New York Met, as Chef Ronzoni (complete with chef's hat and a plate of spaghetti), and even as Colonel Oliver North in full Marine Corps dress uniform.
Fanelli is also a serious marathon runner, with a best time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 16 seconds, just on the edge of world class. He ran that time in 1980, and later that year he also led the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon for 16 miles.
So how did he end up on the American Samoa Olympic team?
Fanelli was visiting Hawaii in August, 1987, when he heard that American Samoa, which had become a member of the International Olympic Committee earlier that year, was looking for a track and field coach. When he inquired, he was told that if he would help develop a track and field program in Samoa, after six months' residence he would be eligible to represent American Samoa in the Olympic marathon in Seoul.
Naturally, he moved to Pago Pago shortly afterwards. And, although none of the athletes he has been coaching were considered good enough to make the trip, Fanelli is here as the only member of the American Samoa track and field team.
'Ever since I watched the 1968 Olympics on television as a teenager, I've dreamed of going to the Olympics and running in the Olympic marathon,' he said after a morning workout Thursday.
When I didn't make the team in 1984, I thought that was it. But now the dream is coming true.'
Although Fanelli knows he has virtually no chance to win the men's marathon on Oct. 2, that doesn't bother him.
'Just being here is it for me. To compete in the Games is enough. And the Olympic Village is fantastic. It's like Disneyland,' he said.
Still, he is hoping for a good performance.
'My goal is to run 2:15. I've won my last four races, and set course records in three of them. And I've had a great series of long training runs.'
There will be a lot of happy athletes in the opening day parade here on Oct. 17. But none will be happier than Gary Fanelli.
