Singh's life has been chronicled in the biography “Turbaned Tornado” by Khushwant Singh, released on July 7, 2011.

Who was Fauja Singh, the Turbaned Tornado, And What Were His Records in the marathon? Fauja Singh, the British Sikh marathon runner of Indian origin, passed away tragically at the age of 114 after being hit by a car in his native village, Beas Pind, in Punjab.

Born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Pind, Jalandhar (then under British India), Fauja Singh overcame significant physical challenges in his early years. As a child, he couldn’t walk until the age of five, leading his family to fear he might be disabled. Despite weak and thin legs, he eventually helped support his family through farming.

In 1992, following the death of his wife Gian Kaur, Singh moved to East London, England, to live with his son. After the death of his fifth son, Kuldip Singh, in August 1994, he took up jogging to cope with grief. What began as a personal journey of healing soon turned into a historic athletic career. (Who was Fauja Singh, the Turbaned Tornado, And What Were His Records in the marathon?)

In 2000, at the age of 89, Singh began running professionally. That year, he completed the London Marathon in 6 hours and 54 minutes, shaving 58 minutes off the previous world record in the 90-plus age category. With his personal trainer Harminder Singh, he went on to run marathons across cities like New York, Toronto, Mumbai, and more.

In 2003, Singh completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 5 hours and 40 minutes, setting a personal best in the over-90 category. He became affectionately known as the "Turbaned Tornado", using his platform to promote Sikh culture and raise funds for numerous charities. (Who was Fauja Singh, the Turbaned Tornado, And What Were His Records in the marathon?)

One of his most remarkable feats came in 2011, at the age of 100, when he set eight world age-group records in one day at the Ontario Masters Association Invitational Meet in Toronto. His performances in events ranging from 100m to 5000m established five new world records and set benchmarks in three other distances where none had existed.

Ontario Masters Invitational Meet Records (Age 100):

100m – 23.40 sec (previous: 29.83)

200m – 52.23 sec (previous: 77.59)

400m – 2:13.48 (previous: 3:41)

800m – 5:32.18 (no previous record)

1500m – 11:27.00 (previous: 16:46)

Mile – 11:53.45 (no previous record)

3000m – 24:52.47 (no previous record)

5000m – 49:57.39 (no previous record)

Three days later, on October 16, 2011, Singh became the first centenarian to finish a full marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 6 seconds. However, his record wasn’t recognized by the Guinness World Records due to the absence of a birth certificate—a common issue for those born in India in the early 1900s.

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

In 2013, at the age of 101, he retired after finishing a 10km run at the Hong Kong Marathon in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.

Major Running Achievements

London Marathons: 2000 (6:54), 2001 (6:54), 2002 (6:45), 2003 (6:02), 2004 (6:07), 2012 (7:49:21)

Toronto Waterfront Marathon: 2003 (5:40 – PB), 2011 (8:11)

New York City Marathon: 2003 (7:35)

Half Marathons: Glasgow (2004 – 2:33), Toronto (2004 – 2:29:59)

Hong Kong Marathons (10km): 2012 (1:34), 2013 (1:32:28)

Awards and Recognition

• Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2003): First non-American recipient, for being a symbol of racial tolerance.
• Pride of India title (2011)
• Featured in a PETA campaign as the oldest person ever to appear in one.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Singh’s life has been chronicled in the biography “Turbaned Tornado” by Khushwant Singh, released on July 7, 2011. A biopic titled “Fauja”, directed by Omung Kumar B, was also announced in 2021.

Fauja Singh’s story is one of resilience, inspiration, and late-blooming greatness. He broke stereotypes about age, health, and race, proving it’s never too late to start over—or to make history.

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