Fauja Singh, The Turbaned Tornado, Dies At 114

The world mourns the loss of legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh, who passed away at the age of 114 in a hit-and-run incident on Monday, according to police in India.

Singh, affectionately known as the “Turbaned Tornado,” captured global admiration for his incredible athletic journey that began in his late 80s. Born in rural Punjab in 1911, Singh moved to London later in life and began running marathons at 89—after the devastating loss of his wife and son.

Despite his late start, he completed nine full marathons, inspiring millions with his stamina, spirit, and resilience. His personal best came in 2003 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where he clocked an impressive 5 hours and 40 minutes. In 2011, he made history by becoming the first recorded centenarian to complete a marathon, finishing the Toronto race in just over eight hours.

Singh’s remarkable feats were never officially recognized by Guinness World Records due to the absence of a birth certificate—a common issue for those born in early 20th-century rural India. Still, he received widespread acclaim, including a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II on his 100th birthday and the honor of carrying the Olympic torch ahead of the 2012 London Games.

According to local authorities, Singh was struck by an unidentified vehicle while walking near his native village of Beas in Punjab. He sustained serious head and rib injuries and later died at Srimann Hospital in Jalandhar. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify the vehicle involved.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, hailing Singh as “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.”

“Running showed me kindness and brought me back to life by making me forget all my traumas and sorrows,” Singh told CNN in a 2013 interview at age 102.

Singh ran his final race, a 10-kilometer event, in Hong Kong in 2013. He remained an icon of endurance, optimism, and human potential well into his later years.

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

His story—of overcoming childhood frailty, personal loss, and societal limitations—serves as an enduring reminder that it’s never too late to chase greatness.