Fauja Singh: Oldest marathon runner an inspiration for youngsters

It’s never too late to start doing what you love and Fauja Singh, a British Sikh marathon runner of Indian origin, embodies the sentiment.

Having taken up running to overcome grief at the age of 89, Fauja Singh, now retired, has numerous records to his name in multiple age brackets. Originally a farmer from Punjab, the long distance runner is also believed to be the oldest man to have completed a full marathon, at the age of 100.

Though he has hung up his running shoes, Fauja Singh, now 112-years young, remains a motivation and goal-setter for the younger generations when it comes to fitness.

Where is Fauja Singh from?

Fauja Singh was born in Beas Pind in Jalandhar, Punjab, then under British India, on April 1, 1911. He was the youngest of four children in a farming family.

Fauja Singh’s childhood was not an easy one. His family thought he was crippled as he was not able to walk until he was five years old. Due to thin and weak legs, he could hardly walk long distances. As a young man, he took to farming to support his family.

In 1992, he moved to England and settled in East London with his son after his wife Gian Kaur's death in Jalandhar.

How did Fauja Singh take up running?

Fauja Singh took to running after the death of his fifth son Kuldip in August 1994. He started jogging initially to overcome the grief.

However, it was not until 2000 that Fauja Singh, at the age 89, decided to take up running seriously. He shot to fame when he completed the London Marathon that year, his maiden full marathon run, in 6 hours and 54 minutes. In the process he knocked 58 minutes off the previous world’s best in the 90 plus age bracket.

Since then, Fauja Singh has never looked back. The Indo-British athlete has run marathons in New York, Toronto as well as in Mumbai. He was closely monitored by his personal trainer Harminder Singh throughout his career.

Fauja Singh went one step further by completing the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and 40 minutes in the ‘over 90’ category - his personal best timing.

Nicknamed the Turbaned Tornado, Fauja Singh has raised funds for various charities while promoting the Sikh culture around the world by participating in various marathons.

In 2011, Fauja Singh, at the age of 100, achieved eight world age-group records in a single day at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Canada.

The run was timed by officials in Canada. Fauja Singh ran the 100m in 23.14, 200m in 52.23, 400m in 2:13.48, 800m in 5:32.18, 1500m in 11:27.81, one mile in 11:53.45, 3000m in 24:52.47 and 5000m in 49:57.39, resetting five world records for his age group in one day.

The remaining three had no previous marks as no one had attempted these records at his age. Several of his marks were better than the existing records in the 95 year-old age group.

Ontario Masters Association Invitational Meet: World records broken by Fauja Singh

100m - 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83)

200m - 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds)

400m - 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00)

800m - 5:32.18 (no previous record)

1,500m - 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00)

Mile - 11:53.45 (no previous record)

3,000m - 24:52.47 (no previous record)

5,000m - 49:57.39 (no previous record)

Three days later, on October 16, 2011, Fauja Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon, making him the oldest marathoner. He completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours 11 min and 6 seconds.

As it took him over 14 minutes after the gun to cross the starting line, the official time submitted for the age group record was 8:25:17. Though it was a world record, the Guinness World Records refused to recognise the feat as Fauja Sinngh couldn’t produce his birth certificate, as official birth records were not kept in India back in 1911.

The birth date on his passport, however, reads April 1, 1911 and the legendary marathon runner also received a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II, congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

A torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics, Fauja Singh retired at the age of 101, after completing his last long distance competitive race in Hong Kong, where he finished a 10km run in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

Fauja Singh’s running achievements

• 2000 London Marathon: 6 hours 54 min
• 2001 London Marathon: 6 hours 54 min
• 2002 London Marathon: 6 hours 45 min
• 2003 London Marathon: 6 hours 2 min
• 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon: 5 hours 40 min (Personal Best)
• 20003 New York City Marathon: 7 hours 35 min
• 2004 London Marathon: 6 hours 7 min
• 2004 Glasgow City Half Marathon: 2 hours 33 min
• 2004 Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon: 2 hours 29 min 59 sec
• 2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon: 8 hours 11 min
• 2012 London Marathon: 7 hours 49 min 21 sec
• 2012 Hong Kong Marathon (10 km): 1 hour 34 min
• 2013 Hong Kong Marathon (10 km): 1 hour 32 min 28 sec

Biopic and biography on Fauja Singh

A biographical account of Fauja Singh’s life, named Turbaned Tornado, was released on July 7, 2011. The book was written by Chandigarh-based columnist and writer Khushwant Singh. A biopic titled Fauja, directed by Omung Kumar B was announced in 2021.

Awards won by Fauja SIngh

Fauja Singh was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003 for being a symbol of racial tolerance. He was the first non-American to receive the honour. Fauja Singh was also awarded the Pride of India title in 2011.

A vegetarian, Fauja Singh is also the oldest man to have featured in a PETA campaign. He also appeared in a commercial for a leading sports brand, alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.