World’s Oldest Marathon Runner, 114, Dies After Hit by Car

The world’s oldest marathon runner dies in a tragic hit-and-run at the age of 114. Fauja Singh, known as the “Turbaned Tornado,” passed away near his native village in Punjab, India.

He inspired millions by starting his marathon journey in his late 80s and running into his 100s.

A Remarkable Life Ends in Tragedy

Police in Punjab confirmed that Fauja Singh was hit by an unknown vehicle while walking near the town of Beas. He suffered serious injuries to his head and ribs. Singh was rushed to Srimann Hospital in Jalandhar but sadly did not survive.

Harvinder Singh Virk, the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police said:

“We are working on identifying the vehicle. We’re reviewing CCTV footage and have teams on the ground.”

A passerby witnessed the incident and alerted authorities.

Tributes poured in from across the world. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Singh

“an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.”

From Late Bloomer to Global Inspiration

Born in 1911 in rural India, Fauja Singh couldn’t walk until age five due to weak legs. Later in life, after moving to England and losing his wife and son, he found healing through running.

“Running showed me kindness and brought me back to life by making me forget all my traumas and sorrows,” he said in a CNN interview at age 102.

He ran his first marathon at 89 and went on to complete nine in total. In 2003, he achieved a personal best of 5 hours and 40 minutes at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

In 2011, Singh made history in Toronto again, becoming the first centenarian to finish a full marathon officially, clocking just over eight hours.

Despite his feats, Guinness World Records did not recognize him due to a missing birth certificate. However, Queen Elizabeth sent him a personal letter on his 100th birthday, recognizing his incredible journey.

His final race was a 10K in Hong Kong in 2013, a year after he proudly carried the Olympic torch for the London 2012 Games.

Singh once said:

“I am very fond of my running shoes, I absolutely love them. I wear them for pleasure. I can’t imagine my life without them.”

Though the world’s oldest marathon runner dies, his legacy lives on as a symbol of resilience, passion, and late-life transformation.

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