Fauja Singh, a British-Indian marathon runner hailed as the world’s oldest distance runner, died Monday at age 114 after a hit-and-run accident in his native Punjab village.
Police reported that an unidentified vehicle struck Singh while he crossed a road in Beas Pind, near Jalandhar. Locals rushed him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Singh, who began running at the age of 89, completed nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, retiring at the age of 101. His feats included a personal best of five hours and 40 minutes at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon and a reported first centenarian finish in 2011, also in Toronto.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, he earned the nickname “Turbaned Tornado” and inspired global audiences.
His London-based running club, Sikhs In The City, confirmed the loss.
“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity, Fauja Singh, has passed away in India,” coach Harmander Singh wrote on Facebook, BBC reported. The club plans to dedicate events through March 29, 2026, to honor his legacy, including fundraising for a clubhouse in Ilford, where he had lived since 1992.
“A search is under way, and the accused will be caught soon,” said Harvinder Singh, a senior district police officer. Tributes followed swiftly, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him an “exceptional athlete with incredible determination.”
Singh’s journey began in Punjab, born April 1, 1911, to a farming family. Weak legs delayed his walking until age five, but he overcame childhood taunts.
“But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history,” he told BBC Punjabi in June. After his wife Gian Kaur’s death in the early 1990s and his youngest son Kuldeep’s death in a tragic accident, he moved to London, finding solace in running.
“In my youth, I didn’t even know the word ‘marathon’ existed,” he said, crediting coach Harmander Singh for his success.
His 2000 London Marathon debut, finished in six hours and 54 minutes for the charity BLISS, marked his rise. He later featured in an Adidas campaign alongside Muhammad Ali and was invited to Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite lacking a 1911 birth certificate — unavailable in colonial India — his British passport listed his birth date, and the Queen sent a 100th birthday letter. Guinness World Records declined to recognize his records, citing the missing document.
In June, BBC met a spry Singh in Beas Pind, walking miles daily.
“I still go for walks around the village to keep my legs strong. A person has to take care of his own body,” he said.
He attributed longevity to “eating less, running more, and staying happy.”
British MPs mourned his passing.
Preet Kaur Gill wrote on X, “A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me.”
Jas Athwal added, “His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever.”