Fauja Singh, Marathon Icon Who Ran Into His 100s, Dies at 114
A remarkable life of endurance and inspiration has come to an end with the passing of Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, at the age of 114. Singh, who took up running at 89, died after being struck by a car in his birth village of Beas Pind, near Jalandhar in Punjab, India, earlier this week, according to reports. His story, a testament to the human spirit, captivated the world and challenged conventional notions of age and possibility.
From Punjabi Farmer to Global Inspiration
For the first eight decades of his life, Singh lived a quiet existence as a farmer in a small village in Punjab, India, born in 1911. He married and raised six children, but never learned to read or write. Tragedy struck in the early 1990s with the loss of his wife and, later, his son, prompting a move to Ilford, east London, to be closer to family. It was in this new chapter of his life, grappling with grief and a new language, that Singh discovered a passion that would redefine his later years.
While watching television in 1999, he stumbled upon footage of the New York City Marathon. “He wanted to know what this race was because he couldn’t relate to why people were running for so long,” explained Harmander Singh, Fauja’s former trainer, in a recent interview. “He didn’t know what a marathon was. He was told it was 26 miles. He’d done a 20km walk a few months earlier, and he couldn’t tell the difference between a mile and a kilometre. He said, ‘Well, I can do another six.’”
A Late Bloom in the World of Marathon Running
That simple declaration sparked a journey that would see Singh become a marathon veteran, a record holder, and an international icon. Introduced to Harmander Singh through mutual friends, he began training and, despite the London Marathon applications being closed, secured a charity place. This marked the beginning of a prolific running career.
Singh’s physical strength, honed by a lifetime of agricultural labor, belied his age. At 100, he set five age-related world records in a single day, ranging from 100 meters to 5,000 meters. He became known for his distinctive appearance – a yellow turban and long white beard – and his unwavering spirit. He even served as a poster model for Adidas, a testament to his growing fame. In 2011, at the age of 101, he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, becoming the oldest person ever to run a marathon, though this feat was never officially recognized by the Guinness World Records due to a lack of a birth certificate.
A Legacy of Positivity and Perseverance
Despite the lack of official recognition from Guinness, Singh’s impact was undeniable. He inspired countless individuals with his story, leading to the creation of a children’s book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going, and a Bollywood movie titled Fauja. According to his coach, “I think the attention kept him alive. Another one of his sayings was, ‘When you get old, you become young again, because you want attention.’ He was fascinated, dazzled, because everything was glittering to him.”
Those who knew Singh remember him as a man of immense positivity. “He was an icon of humanity and a powerhouse of positivity,” said Harmander Singh, chair of the multicultural running club Sikhs in the City. “We wouldn’t say we were ready for [his death], but these circumstances certainly didn’t help.” The club, founded by Singh, is now fundraising for a new clubhouse in his memory, open to runners of all backgrounds.
Singh’s motivations for running were deeply personal. After enduring significant loss, he sought a purpose beyond grief. “When I asked him about his motivations, he said, ‘I just wanted to do something useful rather than dwell on the past,’” his coach recalled.
Fauja Singh’s life serves as a powerful reminder that age is merely a number and that the human spirit is capable of extraordinary feats. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to pursue their dreams, no matter how ambitious, and to find strength in the face of adversity.
