WORLD’S OLDEST MARATHON RUNNER DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT
By: Gyang Dakwo
Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and a symbol of unshakable endurance, has died at the age of 114 after he was hit by a vehicle in Beas Pind, his village near Jalandhar in Punjab, India.
The accident happened on Monday while he was crossing the road, and although the driver fled the scene, police say they are working hard to track the vehicle down.
Singh, affectionately called the “Turbaned Tornado,” was born on April 1, 1911, though his birth was never officially documented because birth certificates were not issued in many rural parts of India at the time.
He grabbed global attention in 2011 when, at the age of 100, he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, becoming the first known centenarian to run a full marathon from start to finish.
Guinness World Records did not recognise the feat due to the lack of a birth certificate, but that did not matter much to Singh, or to the countless fans who cheered him on from around the world.
Back in 2003, he had set his personal best at the same Toronto marathon, finishing in five hours and forty minutes, which was impressive not just for a 92-year-old, but for any runner.
What made his story even more remarkable was that he only started running competitively at the age of 89, after moving to London to recover from the deep personal grief of losing both his wife and son.
Running became his therapy, but it quickly grew into a mission, and before long, he was lacing up for marathons in New York, London, and Toronto, while also becoming a face of fitness campaigns and charity events.
He even carried the Olympic torch for the London 2012 Games, and by the time he retired, he had captured the hearts of people far beyond the running community.
Singh officially stepped away from competitive running in 2013, after completing a 10-kilometre race in Hong Kong just weeks before turning 102, and even then, he left behind a trail of energy that has not stopped moving.
His daily routine was a masterclass in discipline, early morning runs, a strict vegetarian diet, no alcohol, no smoking, and lots of smiles. He credited this simple lifestyle for his strength and longevity.
News of his death triggered a wave of emotion online, as admirers, athletes, and world leaders remembered not just the man who ran marathons at 100, but the one who reminded us all that age does not define ability.
His biographer, Khushwant Singh, confirmed the sad news on X, saying, “My ‘Turbaned Tornado’ is no more,” and explained that Fauja was struck while crossing the road near his home.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also paid tribute, calling Singh “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination,” and praised him for inspiring generations with his commitment to fitness and positive living.
His London-based running group, Sikhs in the City, said they would honour him at future events, and already, runners across the world are dedicating miles to his memory.
Fauja Singh’s story was never just about running, it was about rising, recovering, and refusing to be defined by age. And even though he is gone, his legacy will keep running long after the rest of us stop to catch our breath.
