**World’s Oldest Marathon Runner, Fauja Singh, Dies at 114 in Tragic Hit-and-Run Accident**

World’s Oldest Marathon Runner, Fauja Singh, Dies at 114 in Tragic Hit-and-Run Accident

Beas Pind, Punjab, India (July 14, 2025) – Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and a beacon of resilience across generations, tragically passed away at the age of 114 after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident near his native village in Punjab. He was taken to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to severe head injuries

🚦 Circumstances of the Accident

• The incident occurred around mid-afternoon as Singh was crossing the highway near Beas Pind

• The driver fled the scene, leading to a police manhunt .

• Authorities have since arrested an NRI suspect, 26-year-old Amritpal Singh Dhillon, and seized the vehicle involved—a Toyota Fortuner

🏃 A Century of Inspiration

🕓 Late Start, Legendary Journey

• Singh did not begin distance running until age 89, using the sport as a healing outlet after his wife and son passed away

• His first marathon was the 2000 London Marathon, completed in 6:54:00

🥇 Record-Breaking Achievements

• In 2011, at age 100, he became the first centenarian to complete a full m

• Although Guinness did not formally recognize his record due to missing birth records, he held multiple masters age-group records

• His best marathon time was recorded in 2003’s Toronto race: 5:40:00 within the 90+ age category

• Final competitive run: the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon (10 km) at age 101, finishing in 1:32:28

🕊️ International Impact

• Carried the Olympic torch during the 2012 London Games

• Lived in east London and was an ambassador for Sikhs in the City, a running club and charity based there

🎙️ Tributes and Legacy

• India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him as “extraordinary” and a role model for fitness and determination

• His London-based club posted:

  “Our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity … has passed away in India”

• Globally, athletes, activists, and fitness enthusiasts mourned a man who redefined aging and showed limitations could be broken at any stage.

📚 From Tragedy to Triumph

Raised on a farm in colonial Punjab, Fauja Singh overcame childhood frailty—unable to walk until age five. After personal tragedies (losing his wife and five-year-old son in 1994), he relocated to East London in 1992, where running gave him renewed purpose . His simple, vegetarian lifestyle—phulka, lentils, vegetables—combined with discipline and silence, were credited for his vitality

🕊️ Final Goodbye

At 114, struck down not by frailty but by a careless hit-and-run, his death has heightened awareness of road safety and the irreplaceable loss of a living legend. His family intends to hold rites in the coming days, and his memory will be honored through memorial events and tributes, notably by his club honoring him until his 115th birthday in 2026

✅ Legacy Summary

Fauja Singh’s journey—from grief-stricken novice to global inspiration—is a testament to the indomitable spirit of endurance. His life illustrates that every step, no matter when begun, can leave an indelible mark on the world.