Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, died in a road accident in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on Monday. He was 114 years old.
The accident happened around 3:30 pm near his village, Beas, close to Adampur. His family said he was out for a walk on the national highway when a speeding vehicle hit him and ran away. He was taken to a hospital but could not survive.
Fauja Singh was known for his good health and active lifestyle, even at such an old age. Though he had stopped running marathons, he still attended events to support and encourage runners.
He began running at the age of 89 after losing his wife and son in an accident. Running helped him cope with loneliness and grief. He went on to run 18 marathons, starting in London in 2000, and retired after running in Toronto (2011), London (2012), and Hong Kong (2013).
Although he ran marathons till the age of 102, he could not be listed in the Guinness World Records due to lack of official documents proving his birth date.
Fauja Singh was a tall, lean, vegetarian man and lived a simple life. He supported many causes and was featured in campaigns by PETA and Adidas. He also raised money for premature babies and the welfare of the Sikh community.
Many leaders expressed sadness over his death. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said Fauja Singh was an inspiration and remembered walking with him during the ‘Nasha Mukt – Rangla Punjab’ march in December 2024.
Police are trying to find the vehicle that hit him. CCTV footage is being collected, and an FIR has been filed.
Fauja Singh passed away at Shrimann Hospital in Jalandhar in the evening.
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