Fauja Singh, the remarkable centenarian widely celebrated as the world’s oldest long-distance runner, has died following a road accident in the Jalandhar district of Punjab, India.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday as Singh, aged 114, was crossing a road in his native village of Bias. News of his death was confirmed by his biographer, Khushwant Singh, who posted an emotional tribute on X, saying, “My Turbaned Tornado is no more.”
A British national of Indian origin, Singh earned international acclaim for defying age and odds through his astonishing feats in endurance running. Affectionately nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado,” Singh’s story captured the imagination of sports lovers around the world. Despite lacking an official birth certificate — a common issue for those born under British colonial rule—his family maintained he was born on April 1, 1911.
Fauja Singh did not begin competitive running until the age of 89, following the personal tragedies of losing his wife and one of his sons. Watching a marathon on television sparked something within him, and he took to running with a fervor that would soon make him a global sensation. His journey from grief to glory inspired not only the elderly but also youth worldwide.
Though he could never claim the Guinness World Record due to documentation issues, Singh remains widely regarded as the oldest marathon runner in the world. His official marathon journey lasted until he was 100, when he completed several 42-kilometer races.
His final competitive event came in 2013 at the age of 101, when he ran a 10-kilometer race during the Hong Kong Marathon. He completed it in one hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds — a time many runners decades younger would envy.
His fame led to appearances in high-profile advertisements alongside global sports icons like David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. Singh also served as an Olympic torchbearer at both the Athens 2004 and London 2012 Games, further cementing his legacy as a symbol of timeless endurance and human potential.
Much of his strength and longevity was attributed to a simple yet disciplined lifestyle. Fauja Singh maintained a vegetarian diet rich in dry fruit-filled *laddus* and home-churned curd, and he remained physically active through daily farm walks well into his later years.
Tributes poured in across social media platforms and from global leaders. Among them was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described Singh as “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.” He added, “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. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
The loss of Fauja Singh is not only a blow to the world of athletics but to all who found hope in his story—a testament to resilience, purpose, and the limitless boundaries of human will.
What you should know
Fauja Singh, affectionately called the “Turbaned Tornado,” took up running at 89 and became a global inspiration. Though never officially recognized by Guinness World Records, he completed marathons up to the age of 100 and remained active until 101. He passed away at 114 after a road accident in his native village in Punjab.
