Turbaned Tornado: Fauja Singh, legendary marathon runner who chose running to battle grief
The 114-year-old legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh fondly known as 'Turbaned tornado' died in a road accident in his village near Jalandhar in Punjab. He was hit by unidentified vehicle while he was crossing the road at his native Bas village in Punjab's Jalandhar.
"My father was going for a walk when an unidentified vehicle hit him. He suffered head injuries. We immediately rushed him to a private hospital; however, he succumbed to his injuries," said his son Harvinder Singh.
Fauja Singh's marathon career
Fauja Singh was born on April 1, 1911, and rose to international fame after he
started his marathon career in 2000 at the age of 89 following his migration to England in 1993.
Fondly known as the Turbaned Tornado, he went on to become oldest marathon runner after he completed his first full marathon in 2011 in six hours and fifty-four minutes. He broke the previous world record of 58 minutes in the 90-plus age bracket.
He also ran New York, Toronto and Mumbai marathons.
In 2003, he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and forty minutes in the 90-plus category, which was his personal best timing.
On October 16, 2011, Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon, making him the oldest marathoner as he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, eleven minutes and six seconds.
Despite setting a world record, the Guinness World Records refused to recognise it as Singh failed to produce his birth certificate.
He became a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics and then announced his retirement at the age of 101 after completing his last 10 kilometres in Hong Kong with time spanned across one hour thirty-two minutes and twenty-eight seconds.
Symbol of resilience
Fauja Singh is and will always remain a symbol of resilience who chose running to battle depression after passing away of his family members including his wife Gian Kaur in 1992. His youngest daughter then died in childbirth, and a son was killed in 1994 when struck in the head by a sheet of windblown corrugated metal during a storm. As Singh was reeling from these tragedies, he said, his masters running career began in 2000, when he was said to be in his 80s.
Due to his achievements in marathons and charity, Fauja Singh was bestowed with the British Empire Medal in 2015. He was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honour by the National Ethnic Coalition in 2013 in the US, apart from being one of the torchbearers for the London Olympics.
After running a marathon at ripe old age, Fauja Singh became a symbol of resilience and unwavering spirit. He became a trailblazer of breaking stereotypes around running and inspired millions across the world to take up running.
- With inputs from agencies
