Fauja Singh, the legendary British-Indian marathon runner who gained global acclaim for starting his athletic career at the age of 89, died in a road accident in Punjab at the age of 114. Local police said he was hit by an unidentified vehicle while walking in his village. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
A search is under way, and the accused will be caught soon,” district police officer Harvinder Singh confirmed.
Born in 1911, Singh became an international sensation after participating in several marathons, including the London Marathon, and was featured in Adidas’s global “Nothing Is Impossible” campaign alongside Muhammad Ali.
Singh began running following personal tragedy. After moving to London in the 1990s, he started running to cope with the loss of his wife and younger son. His marathon journey officially started in 2000, just before turning 89, when he ran the London Marathon for the charity BLISS, supporting premature babies.
“I refused to run without my turban. Eventually, the organisers allowed me to run with it, and for me, that’s my biggest achievement,” he said of his first race. His tagline for that run was: “Oldest running for the youngest! May they live as long as him.”
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Singh went on to complete nine full marathons by 2013, with notable appearances in Toronto, Hong Kong, and Lahore. In 2011, he reportedly became the first centenarian to finish a full marathon, though his record was not recognised by Guinness World Records due to a lack of official birth documentation from 1911.
Global Recognition and Humble Legacy
Singh earned the nickname “Turbaned Tornado” and was a torchbearer in the 2012 London Olympics. His disciplined lifestyle and plant-based diet were often credited for his endurance and longevity.
“I was the same Fauja Singh before I entered the world of running—but running gave my life a mission and brought me global recognition,” he said in June.
Tributes poured in after news of his death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.” British MP Preet Kaur Gill wrote, “A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me.”
Singh is survived by his family, dividing his final years between India and the UK. His running club, Sikhs in the City, has announced plans to honour his legacy in upcoming events.
