'World's oldest marathon runner' dies at age 114 in road accident
Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado," died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state's Jalandhar district on Monday.
"My Turbaned Tornado is no more," Fauja's biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X.
"He was struck by an unidentified vehicle ... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja."
Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911.
He ran full marathons until the age of 100.
His last race was a 10-kilometer event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon at the age of 101, where he finished in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.
He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television.
Although widely regarded as the world's oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011.
Singh was an Olympic torchbearer at the 2004 Athens Games and the 2012 London Games, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of walks and a diet including Indian sweet laddu packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media.
"Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness," Modi wrote on X.
"He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world."
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'World's oldest marathon runner' dies at age 114 in road accident
India's Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest distance runner, has died in a road accident at age 114, his biographer said Tuesday. Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado," died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state's Jalandhar district on Monday. "My Turbaned Tornado is no more," Fauja's biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X. "He was struck by an unidentified vehicle ... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja." Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911. He ran full marathons until the age of 100. His last race was a 10-kilometer event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon at the age of 101, where he finished in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds. He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television. Although widely regarded as the world's oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011. Singh was an Olympic torchbearer at the 2004 Athens Games and the 2012 London Games, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of walks and a diet including Indian sweet laddu packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media. "Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness," Modi wrote on X. "He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world."
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