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Business Standard
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Fauja Singh, centenarian runner who inspired millions, dies at 114
The saying 'It's never too late to start over' finds its most extraordinary embodiment in the life of Fauja Singh. The world-renowned centenarian marathoner, who didn't lace up his running shoes until the age of 89, passed away on Monday night at 114. His death was sudden and tragic, he was struck by an unidentified vehicle while out on a walk in his hometown, Beas Pind in Jalandhar. Despite his age, the abruptness of his passing left many heartbroken. Having spent much of his running career in the UK, Singh returned to his roots in India about three years ago after retiring. According to his biographer, Khushwant Singh, "We used to caution him about the dangers of running in India because of reckless driving. Sadly, that's exactly how his journey ended." The journey that began through healing Fauja's path to greatness wasn't born of ambition but healing. After the loss of his youngest son in the 1990s, following the earlier deaths of his wife and daughter, he emigrated to the UK. In Essex, he discovered a running club, which became his refuge and later, his passion. 'Back in the village, he would sit for hours at the cremation ground. That's when his family decided he should move to the UK,' Khushwant said. Running began as a way to escape grief but grew into a purpose. Fauja would go on to participate in prestigious marathons, London, New York, Hong Kong, clocking impressive times for someone not only over 90, but born with weak legs. In 2012, he was a torchbearer at the London Olympics and was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to sport and charity. 'Before meeting the Queen, we had to keep telling him not to hug her like he would greet children,' Khushwant laughed. Ontario Masters Association Invitational Meet: World records broken by Fauja Singh 100m - 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83) 200m - 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds) 400m - 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00) 800m - 5:32.18 (no previous record) 1,500m - 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00) Mile - 11:53.45 (no previous record) 3,000m - 24:52.47 (no previous record) 5,000m - 49:57.39 (no previous record) Despite his fame, Fauja remained grounded. Illiterate but able to recognize numbers as visual patterns, he had no interest in wealth. Every penny he earned through running went to charity. Even unsolicited donations from admirers were quickly dropped into Gurudwara boxes. A true Punjabi at heart, he loved pinnis and the occasional McDonald's strawberry shake, but his discipline as a runner never wavered. He trained diligently and lived simply. One of his most iconic achievements came in 2011 when he turned 100. At an invitational meet in Toronto, he set several records for his age group. Unfortunately, Guinness World Records didn't recognize them due to the lack of a birth certificate, something that never bothered him. 'He was just happy with the attention,' Khushwant said. 'When I once asked if he feared death, he replied, 'Of course, the fun is just beginning.'' Even well past his prime, Fauja remained active, joining a run against drug addiction just two years ago. His name, which means 'soldier,' perfectly suited his approach to life. He faced his trials with unwavering strength and trust in humanity. 'He never worried about travel or logistics,' said Khushwant. 'He believed, 'The community will take care of me.''
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World's oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, dies in a hit-and-run at 114
Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, center, runs in a 10-kilometer race at age 101, part of the annual Hong Kong Marathon in Hong Kong on Feb. 2013. Singh died at 114. (Kin Cheung / AP) Fauja Singh, a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and the world's oldest marathon runner, died Monday in a hit-and-run, according to police in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. He was 114. Born in India in 1911, Singh lived much of his life in London. On Oct. 13, 2011, in Toronto, he set a flurry of world age-group records at a meet established especially for him, the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational. Advertisement Singh, nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado," ran the 100 meters in 23.14, 200 meters in 52.23, 400 meters in 2:13.48, 800 meters in 5:32.18, 1500 meters in 11:27.81, one mile in 11:53.45, 3000 meters in 24:52.47 and 5000 meters in 49:57.39. He was 100 years old. 'He rested between the events by sitting down and having a few sips of tea,' Ontario Masters official Doug Smith told the New York Times in 2017. 'He was actually running — both feet off the ground. "It was the most astonishing achievement." Read more: John Elway won't be charged in golf cart incident that killed close friend Jeff Sperbeck Advertisement Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon three days later, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds. He didn't begin the race until 14 minutes after the starting gun because of the congestion of runners, so his official time was 8:25:17. Guinness World Records wouldn't recognize the feat because Singh didn't have a birth certificate. India didn't keep official birth records when he was born in 1911. The birth date on his passport was April 1, 1911. A Punjabi Sikh, Singh moved to London in 1992 to live with an adult son after his wife, Gian Kaur, a son and a daughter died. He took up running two years later to alleviate his grief after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip. "The villagers would tell one of his sons to take him to the UK because he would keep visiting the cremation ground and sit there for hours," his biographer, Khushwant Singh, told NDTV. Advertisement Read more: Nina Kuscsik, distance-running pioneer and first official women's winner of Boston Marathon, dies at 86 Running soon became his passion. Easily identified by his long white beard and orange Sikh turban, Singh was honored with a letter from Queen Elizabeth II of England when he turned 100 and was the subject of a biography launched in the House of Lords. In all, Singh completed nine marathons and ran his last competitive race in February 2013 when he was 101, finishing a 10K run in Hong Kong in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds. Singh returned to India during the pandemic and was hit by a car Monday while on his daily walk in his home village of Beas Pind. He died in a hospital, his former coach Harmander Singh told the New York Times. Advertisement "We would always tell him that someone his age running in India would always run the risk of being hit given how reckless the driving here is," Khushwant Singh said. "This is what ultimately happened, unfortunately," Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
World's oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, dies in a hit-and-run at 114
Fauja Singh, a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and the world's oldest marathon runner, died Monday in a hit-and-run, according to police in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. He was 114. Born in India in 1911, Singh lived much of his life in London. On Oct. 13, 2011, in Toronto, he set a flurry of world age-group records at a meet established especially for him, the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational. Singh, nicknamed the 'Turbaned Tornado,' ran the 100 meters in 23.14, 200 meters in 52.23, 400 meters in 2:13.48, 800 meters in 5:32.18, 1500 meters in 11:27.81, one mile in 11:53.45, 3000 meters in 24:52.47 and 5000 meters in 49:57.39. He was 100 years old. 'He rested between the events by sitting down and having a few sips of tea,' Ontario Masters official Doug Smith told the New York Times in 2017. 'He was actually running — both feet off the ground. 'It was the most astonishing achievement.' Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon three days later, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds. He didn't begin the race until 14 minutes after the starting gun because of the congestion of runners, so his official time was 8:25:17. Guinness World Records wouldn't recognize the feat because Singh didn't have a birth certificate. India didn't keep official birth records when he was born in 1911. The birth date on his passport was April 1, 1911. A Punjabi Sikh, Singh moved to London in 1992 to live with an adult son after his wife, Gian Kaur, a son and a daughter died. He took up running two years later to alleviate his grief after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip. 'The villagers would tell one of his sons to take him to the UK because he would keep visiting the cremation ground and sit there for hours,' his biographer, Khushwant Singh, told NDTV. Running soon became his passion. Easily identified by his long white beard and orange Sikh turban, Singh was honored with a letter from Queen Elizabeth II of England when he turned 100 and was the subject of a biography launched in the House of Lords. In all, Singh completed nine marathons and ran his last competitive race in February 2013 when he was 101, finishing a 10K run in Hong Kong in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds. Singh returned to India during the pandemic and was hit by a car Monday while on his daily walk in his home village of Beas Pind. He died in a hospital, his former coach Harmander Singh told the New York Times. 'We would always tell him that someone his age running in India would always run the risk of being hit given how reckless the driving here is,' Khushwant Singh said. 'This is what ultimately happened, unfortunately,'
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.
Metro
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
World's oldest marathon runner, 114, killed by car while crossing the road
An 'icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity' has died after being hit by a car. Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, died while crossing the road in in his birth village Beas Pind in India on Monday. Sikhs In The City, his London-based running club and charity, has now said all of its events up until the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge next March will be devoted to Fajua to 'celebrate his life of success and achievements'. His coach, Harmander Singh, said the club is redoubling its efforts to build a clubhouse in Fajua's name on the running route in Ilford where he used to train. Harmander added in a statement to the club: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India. Aged 114 years old. 'In lieu of flowers please donate to his Clubhouse Appeal so we can carry on his legacy to encourage the world to keep fit and stay positive.' Nicknamed the 'Turbaned Tornado', Fauja ran a full marathon in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 100. The former farmer, who was born in 1911, only took up running in 1994, two years after moving to England, in an attempt to overcome the grief of losing his fifth son Kuldip. Fauja started to take his running more seriously in 2000 and that year he completed the London Marathon, his first ever full marathon run, clocking in at six hours and 54 minutes. He knocked 58 minutes off the previous world's best in the 90-plus age bracket in the process. Since then the Indo-British athlete has run marathons in New York, Toronto as well as in Mumbai. His best time was recorded at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon where he completed the marathon in five hours and 40 minutes. 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. More Trending 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. However, Guinness World Records did not recognise the feat because Fauja could not produce his birth certificate to prove his age, as official birth records weren't kept when he was born in India in 1911. And in 2012, he acted as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Paddington station evacuated after fire alarm set off MORE: England star Ivan Toney fumes 'this is why I hate London' after his car is broken into MORE: Huge plumes of smoke as three seperate wildfires rage in east London
