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Extra.ie
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
World's oldest marathon runner killed crossing the road
A man who was known worldwide for being the oldest man still running marathons has been killed while crossing the road in his native India. Fauja Singh, who was 114 years old, was believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, but he died on Monday afternoon while crossing the road in the village where he was born, a place called Beas Pind, in India. Mr Singh, who lived in London, was part of a running club called 'Sikhs In The City' who have said all of their events up until the 'Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge' next March will be devoted to his name to celebrate his life of success and achievements. Fauja Singh in 2011. Pic: JeffThe Club is also making plans to build a clubhouse in his name on the running route in Ilford, where he used to train. The 114-year-old who was nicknamed the 'Turbaned Tornado', ran a full marathon in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 100 and since then has run marathons in New York, and Mumbai, but his best time was recorded in Toronto in 2003, where he completed the marathon in five hours and 40 minutes. The former farmer, who was born in 1911, only took up running in 1994, two years after moving to the UK, in an attempt to deal with the grief of losing one of his sons, but started to take running more seriously in 2000, completing the London Marathon in six hours and 54 minutes. Fauja Singh in 2011. Pic: JeffHe knocked 58 minutes off the previous world's best in the '90-plus' age bracket in the process. In 2011, his 100th year, Fauja achieved eight world age-group records in a single day at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Canada. Three days later, he became the first centenarian to finish a marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 11 minutes and six seconds. Fauja Singh in 2016. Pic: Keshav Singh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images However, the Guinness Book of World Records did not recognise his amazing achievements because he was unable to produce his birth certificate to prove his age, as official birth records were not kept when he was born in India in 1911 But in 2012, he was chosen as a torchbearer for the Olympic Games, which were held in London.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Exceptional athlete with incredible determination: PM Modi condoles Fauja Singh's demise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on Tuesday over the passing of Fauja Singh, a centenarian long-distance runner known as the world's oldest marathon runner, calling Singh an "exceptional athlete with incredible determination". Fauja Singh, widely recognised as the world's oldest marathon runner, died at the age of 114 in a road accident at Beas Pind near Jalandhar in Punjab on Monday. Taking to X, PM Modi posted, "Fauja Singh Ji 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. 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," he added. According to reports, the Indian-British Sikh marathon runner of Punjabi descent was hit by an unidentified vehicle when he was crossing the road in his native village. A global icon of strength and willpower, Fauja Singh has inspired millions by running marathons past 100. He took up marathon running late in life and has reportedly completed over 100 marathons. Born in the undivided Punjab at Beas Pind near Jalandhar on April 1, 1911, Fauja Singh started running as a means to overcome his grief after witnessing the death of his fifth son in a construction accident in 1994. Having emigrated to England in the 1990s, Fauja Singh took running in international competitions at the age of 89 and soon started taking part in International marathons. Settled in Ilford with one of his sons, Fauja Singh, soon became renowned worldwide as he set many records in the 90-plus age category. Besides the marathon, he would participate in many long-distance running disciplines in the Masters' category. At the age of 100, he accomplished eight world age group records in one day, at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, held at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His biography, titled Turbaned Tornado, was formally released in the Attlee Room of Britain's House of Lords on July 7, 2011. He was one of the torchbearers for the London Olympics in 2012 and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to sport and charity.
