The Turbaned Torpedo, a renowned Indian-born runner believed to be the oldest marathon runner in history, passed away on Monday after being struck by a car. Singh, who went by the real name of Fauja Singh, was 114 years old.
Local media in India reported that Singh incurred serious head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Monday while crossing a road in his hometown near Jalandhar, Punjab. After being taken to the hospital, he tragically succumbed to his injuries. His London-based running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, confirmed the news of his death.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, praising him for his extraordinary personality and for inspiring the youth of India on the important topic of fitness.
In 2011, at the age of 100, Singh achieved the record for being the oldest man to complete a full marathon in Toronto. However, his record was not recognized by the Guinness World Records due to the lack of a birth certificate to verify his age.
Singh took up running at the age of 89 as a way to overcome depression after the deaths of his wife and son in quick succession. The death of his son in 1994 was particularly painful and traumatic for Singh.
During a storm, while checking on their fields, a piece of corrugated metal blown by the wind decapitated Singh’s son in front of his eyes. This tragic event had a profound impact on Singh.
As a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh completed his first London Marathon at the age of 89 and went on to run in eight more marathons. At the 2003 Toronto Marathon, he achieved a personal best time of five hours and forty minutes.
Despite the tragedy he experienced, Singh transformed it into a source of success and happiness. He ran his last competitive race in 2013 at the age of 101, finishing the Hong Kong Marathon’s 10-kilometer race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
In his retirement, Singh expressed his hope that people would remember him and continue to invite him to events, even though he was no longer competing. Modi praised Singh as an exceptional athlete with incredible determination and conveyed his condolences to Singh’s family and his numerous admirers around the world.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/07/16/worlds-oldest-marathon-runner-fauja-singh-dies-at-114-after-being-hit-by-a-car
