Fauja Singh The world's oldest marathon runner is from India. Date of Birth: 01.04.1911 Country: India

Biography of Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, was born on April 1, 1911, in Jalandhar, Punjab, British India. He was the youngest of four children in his family. Singh faced difficulties in his early years as his legs were thin and weak, making it challenging for him to walk long distances. He was teased and given hurtful nicknames as a result. However, as the years went by, Singh became an avid amateur runner.

Unfortunately, due to the Indo-Pakistani conflict in 1947, he had to give up running and return to farming. In August 1994, Singh experienced a tragedy when his fifth son, Kuldip, died in a construction accident. Devastated by this loss, he turned to running again in 1995, finding a new purpose in life and rekindling his passion for the sport. Prior to this, his wife passed away in 1992, followed by the death of his eldest daughter due to complications after childbirth.

Singh immigrated to England in the 1990s and currently resides in Ilford with his son. At the age of 89, he began taking running seriously and eventually participated in international marathons. During his first training session in Redbridge, Essex, Singh wore a three-piece suit. His coach worked diligently to train Singh and even changed his attire to sportswear. Singh effortlessly ran 20 kilometers, only to realize later that a marathon consisted of 26 miles (42 kilometers). This revelation made him understand the seriousness of training.

At the age of 93, Fauja Singh gained fame by completing the grueling 26.2-mile distance in 6 hours and 54 minutes, setting a new world record for the 90+ age group, surpassing the previous record by 58 minutes. Singh, who stands at 172 cm tall and weighs 52 kg, attributes his excellent physical condition and longevity to abstaining from smoking and alcohol, as well as following a simple vegetarian diet. His diet mainly consists of flatbreads, lentils, green vegetables, yogurt, milk, water, and ginger tea, while avoiding fried foods.

Singh's biography, titled "Turbaned Tornado," written by journalist and writer Khushwant Singh, was officially released on July 7, 2011. The book delves into Singh's roots, explores his life journey, and highlights the impact he has had on the world around him.

On October 13, 2003, Fauja Singh was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations in the United States. The coalition's chairman stated that Singh symbolizes racial tolerance, and his approach helps bridge the divide created by the terrorist attacks on September 11. Speaking about his participation in marathons, Singh said, "The first 20 miles are not difficult to run. As for the remaining six, I run while talking to God."