India and the world are mourning the loss of Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner who captured hearts globally as the world’s oldest marathoner. Singh passed away at the age of 114 on July 14, 2025, following a tragic hit-and-run incident in his native village of Beas Pind near Jalandhar, Punjab. Known affectionately as the “Turbaned Tornado,” Fauja Singh was more than an athlete; he was a symbol of relentless spirit, resilience, and the power of positive transformation. His extraordinary life journey—from a grieving widower to a world-renowned running legend—has inspired millions, especially the youth of India, to embrace fitness, perseverance, and hope.
Fauja Singh’s life defied every stereotype about age, ability, and human endurance. In a country where seniors are often expected to quietly retreat from active life, he boldly charted a different course. His late-life transformation into a world-class athletic figure challenged not just Indian societal norms but global misconceptions about aging. With each race he ran, Singh shattered the myth that physical vitality has a sell-by date. His participation in marathons across the world served as a rallying cry for the elderly to reclaim their sense of purpose, their health, and their pride. His story made headlines not just in India, but internationally, drawing admiration from people across cultures and age groups.
Though many remember Singh primarily as a marathon runner, those who knew him personally often spoke of the inner strength that defined him the most. Deeply spiritual, humble, and soft-spoken, he never embraced fame in the conventional sense. He often said he ran not for medals or records but for peace of mind and mental clarity. He regularly credited his Sikh faith, a simple diet, and meditation for his longevity—emphasizing spiritual stamina alongside physical strength. Even at the height of his popularity, he avoided glamour or unnecessary attention, preferring to let his actions serve as silent messages of inspiration.
Singh’s impact extended far beyond fitness. Over the last two decades, he became a powerful advocate for mental health awareness, especially among the elderly. After admitting how he fell into depression following his family tragedies, Singh encouraged senior citizens to engage in physical activity, community events, and spiritual practice to overcome loneliness and grief. His story helped break the stigma around senior depression and grief, equipping many NGOs across India with a relatable role model for their outreach campaigns. Social workers often used his image and story as a motivational tool in nursing homes and charity-run old-age homes.
Fauja Singh was also an unconventional youth icon. School children in India and the UK were frequently exposed to his story through motivational workshops and school modules on inspirational individuals. His photographs, usually of him crossing marathon finish lines with his long white beard flowing, were used in textbooks and wellness campaigns. In a world obsessed with youthful success stories, Singh flipped the script—proving that life’s second act could be just as heroic as the first. A man who began his international running career in his 90s eventually came to influence millions in their teens and twenties who were looking for direction and purpose.
At home in India and in the wider Punjabi diaspora, Singh came to symbolize community resilience. A first-generation immigrant in the UK, he embodied the idea that one could honor tradition while fully embracing modern values. His advocacy for Sikh visibility, religious tolerance, and multicultural harmony made him a respected personality in the multicultural corridors of London. He was featured prominently in many cultural events, faith summits, and even in secular celebrations like marathons and New Year parades, representing unity in diversity like few public figures could.
A Life Marked by Tragedy and Triumph
Fauja Singh’s racing career began late in life, but it was born from profound personal tragedy. In the early 1990s, Singh lost his wife and son within a short span. The loss of his son Kuldip, who was decapitated in a freak accident during a storm, devastated Fauja deeply. Left alone, with his other children settled abroad, Singh battled depression and considered giving up on life. His turning point came when he moved to London with his youngest son, where he encountered the Sikh running community. Encouraged to take up jogging as therapy, he soon discovered both passion and purpose.
The Late Bloomer’s Marathon Triumphs
Remarkably, Fauja Singh took up running at 89 and ran his first full marathon at the London Marathon in 2000. Over the next decade, he completed nine full marathons internationally, including New York, Toronto, and Mumbai. At age 100, he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, becoming the oldest person ever to do so—although Guinness World Records could not officially verify this due to lack of birth documentation. His best recorded marathon time, set at age 92, was 5 hours and 40 minutes. Singh also set five age-group world records in a single day at a Toronto meet, stunning the athletic community with his vitality.
The Torchbearer of Positivity and Fitness
Fauja Singh became a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics and used his platform to promote fitness and charitable causes. He appeared in campaigns alongside internationally renowned figures and engaged actively with Sikh and community organizations. Singh’s philosophy was simple yet powerful: embrace a healthy lifestyle, keep moving, and maintain a calm spirit by staying connected to faith and family. His vegetarian diet, early bedtime, and a daily regimen of meditation and prayer exemplified his balanced approach to longevity.
Global Acclaim and Humble Persona
Despite his incredible accolades, Fauja Singh remained humble and grounded. Known as the “Turbaned Tornado” for his determination and iconic turban-wearing appearance, he inspired the global running fraternity and beyond. His biography, Turbaned Tornado, was launched with great fanfare, celebrating his life’s journey. The world admired not just Singh’s athletic feats but his resilience—the quiet strength to rebuild a shattered life and run toward new horizons, no matter one’s age.
Tragic and Untimely Death
The beloved runner’s life was tragically cut short on July 14, when he was struck by a car while crossing the road near his village in Punjab. He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to the hospital, but passed away later that day. The hit-and-run nature of the accident shocked the community and drew condolences nationwide. Figures from all walks of life, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid tribute to Singh’s inspirational legacy, highlighting the manner in which he motivated generations on fitness and perseverance.
Fauja Singh’s Enduring Legacy
Fauja Singh’s journey holds seven powerful lessons: that it’s never too late to start something new; grief can become a catalyst for transformation; age should never define capability; consistent effort yields extraordinary results; humility amplifies greatness; community and faith sustain strength; and inspiring others is as impactful as personal achievement. His life transcended sport and spoke to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity. Singh will be remembered not just for his records on the track but for the indomitable courage he exhibited throughout a century of life.
Conclusion
As India pays homage to its greatest centenarian athlete, Fauja Singh’s story continues to resonate deeply. From a grief-ridden farmer in Punjab to the world’s oldest marathon runner, his life is a testament to perseverance and hope. Though his physical running has ended, the path he carved inspires millions to cherish health, pursue dreams relentlessly, and face life’s challenges with courage. Fauja Singh’s legacy is eternal—an unparalleled beacon lighting the way for future generations to run, live, and thrive.
The circumstances of Singh’s death sent shockwaves through the fitness and Sikh communities alike. For someone who had spent over two decades promoting pedestrian safety, marathon organization, and senior mobility, to be struck fatally while walking in his own hometown raised serious questions about road safety in rural and semi-urban India. Local authorities have been urged to swiftly locate the vehicle and individual responsible for the hit-and-run incident. Activists are now calling for better pedestrian infrastructure in villages, especially for senior citizens who often walk due to limited access to transport.
Tributes poured in from around the world after the news broke. Fitness communities across continents held candlelight runs and symbolic marathons in Singh’s honor. In Toronto, London, and Nairobi—cities where Singh had once raced—hundreds gathered in local parks wearing turbans and “114 Not Out” shirts to honor his last innings. Athletes, actors, activists, and politicians took to social media to celebrate his immense contribution to sport and society. Many remembered personal messages or encounters where his presence had a calming, uplifting effect, further proving that his influence extended well beyond just running shoes and finish lines.
Plans are underway to immortalize Singh’s legacy. In Punjab, local leaders have proposed renaming a major stadium in his honor, while in London, a life-sized bronze statue is being planned at one of the city’s marathon routes. There is also public demand for India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, to be posthumously conferred upon Fauja Singh for his service not just to sport, but to national pride, global wellness, and human inspiration. His family, while grieving deeply, has expressed gratitude for the love and respect shown from across the globe and confirmed that a trust may be set up in his name to promote senior fitness.
Fauja Singh’s legacy is especially potent at this moment in time when the global population is aging rapidly, and conversations around active, independent senior living are becoming increasingly important. In a world that often sidelines the elderly, Singh offered a living, breathing example of what a productive, joyous, and impactful life after 80 could look like. His age-defying achievements are expected to inform health ministry awareness programs, wellness retreats, and geriatric health courses moving forward. Scholars believe that data from Singh’s routine could serve as long-term case material for the science of longevity and psychology of resilience.
As India reflects on the life of one of its most beloved centenarians, there’s a collective agreement on one thing—Fauja Singh redefined what it means to live a full life. He ran through grief, across continents, over societal boundaries, and finally into millions of hearts. In his passing, India has lost not just a runner, but a reminder that vitality has no expiration date, that joy can be resurrected through purpose, and that even from a broken place, a legend can rise. The ‘Turbaned Tornado’ might have taken his last breath, but his story will inspire generations to lace up, rise above, and keep running—no matter the odds.
Follow: Fauja Singh
