World’s Oldest Marathon Runner Fauja Singh Killed by Car Aged 114…

World’s Oldest Marathon Runner Fauja Singh Killed by Car Aged 114

 

London, July 15, 2025 — Fauja Singh, the world-renowned centenarian marathon runner who inspired millions with his extraordinary endurance and spirit, has died after being struck by a car in East London. He was 114 years old.

Singh, affectionately known as the “Turbaned Tornado,” was reportedly out for a morning walk near his home in Ilford when the tragic accident occurred. Emergency services arrived swiftly, but Singh was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a man in his 30s, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. An investigation is underway.

Fauja Singh captured global attention not only for his impressive running feats in his later years, but for defying both age and expectations. Born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Pind, Punjab, British India, Singh didn’t take up competitive running until his 80s, after emigrating to the United Kingdom. What began as a personal journey to overcome grief and inactivity quickly became an international phenomenon.

In 2000, at the age of 89, Singh completed his first marathon in London. Over the next decade, he participated in numerous marathons around the world, including Toronto, New York, and Hong Kong. His most famous run came in 2011, when he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon at the age of 100, becoming the first centenarian believed to have done so. While the feat was not officially recognized by Guinness World Records due to lack of a birth certificate, it was widely celebrated and verified through official documentation in India.

Singh officially retired from competitive running in 2013, at the age of 102, but remained active through regular walks and community events. He was an outspoken advocate for healthy living, vegetarianism, and charitable causes, supporting campaigns for children’s education and disaster relief. He also featured in high-profile advertising campaigns, becoming the face of Adidas’ “Impossible is Nothing” campaign.

Tributes have poured in from around the globe, with athletes, political leaders, and members of the South Asian diaspora mourning the loss of a beloved icon. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called Singh “a symbol of resilience and hope,” while Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Fauja Singh was more than a runner — he was an inspiration. Rest in power.”

Singh’s family released a statement expressing their grief and gratitude: “Our beloved Fauja lived a life that was full of purpose, humility, and strength. He showed the world that age is no barrier to achieving greatness. We are heartbroken, but we take comfort in the incredible legacy he leaves behind.”

Fauja Singh’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service open to the public, details of which will be announced in the coming days. He is survived by several children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In a world that often limits the elderly to the sidelines, Fauja Singh ran right through expectations — with a smile on his face and a turban on his head.