Who Was Fauja Singh? The 114-Year-Old 'Turbaned Tornado' Who Was Declared 'Too Frail To Survive'

Fauja Singh was no ordinary man. He was a Sikh marathon runner who could give even the young athletes a good run for their money. Fondly remembered as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’ and the ‘Sikh Superman’, the veteran marathoner refused to let his age hold him back from pursuing his dreams, inspiring billions with his energetic spirit, stamina, and unbreakable resilience. After winning hearts around the world with his unwavering faith in his abilities, Fauja Singh’s life came to a heartbreaking end. The 114-year-old athlete passed away on June 14, 2025, not from age, but from a tragic road accident in his hometown in Punjab.

While Fauja Singh’s indomitable spirit is widely recognised, few are aware of his inspiring journey, growing up as a child whose parents doubted he would live through his youth because of fragile bones. Yes! His early childhood came with severe physical weakness, and he was too frail to even walk until he was five. 

As the world mourns the death of the ever-so-spirited Fauja Singh, here’s a glimpse into the late marathoner’s inspiring feat, from a frail farm boy from Jalandhar who once struggled to walk to the record-shattering tornado, who completed a full marathon at 100!

Who was Fauja Singh?

Fauja Singh was born on April 1, 1911, into a farming family in Beas village, Punjab’s Jalandhar district. His early childhood was marked by extreme physical weakness—he was unable to walk until the age of five. Due to his frail frame, locals nicknamed him ‘Danda’ (stick), and many believed he was too weak to survive. 

However, with constant care and encouragement from his family, Fauja gradually regained strength. He eventually embraced a disciplined lifestyle, working on the family farm and slowly building the resilience that would later define his extraordinary life.

Fauja Singh discovered his passion as a professional marathoner at 89

In the 1990s, Fauja Singh moved to England after the passing of his wife, Gian Kaur. He was 89 when, in one of his daily walks in London’s Ilford, he came across long-distance running. What hardly anybody would have anticipated, Fauja got himself enrolled for the 2000 London Marathon under the guidance of his coach, Harmandar Singh. He left jaws dropped when he finished the marathon in under an impressive 6 hours and 54 minutes.

The next 13 years were marked by more success and accolades, as the elderly marathoner went on to complete nine full marathons, out of which six were in London, two in Toronto, and one in New York. Fauja’s biggest achievement came in 2011, when he not only celebrated his 100th birthday but also became the oldest person to complete a full marathon, clocking 8 hours and 11 minutes at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Even though he started late, Fauja Singh earned significant accolades for his extraordinary strength and indomitable spirit, becoming an inspiration to millions of young and old athletes. In 2003, Singh created history as the first non-American recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honour. In 2011, he was awarded the Pride of India award for inspiring the global audience. Another notable achievement came his way in 2015, when he received the British Empire Medal for his valuable contributions to sports and charity.

Fauja Singh was also featured in a PETA campaign as the oldest vegetarian ever to model for the organisation. He soon became a legend and was also appointed as the prestigious torchbearer for the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics. The veteran marathon star, lovingly called the ‘Sikh Superman’, was even featured in Adidas’ legendary 'Impossible is Nothing' campaign alongside Muhammad Ali and David Beckham.

Fauja Singh maintained a strict diet and a disciplined routine

From holding world records in multiple senior categories, including the 100m (23.40s), 5,000m (49:57), and Marathon (5:40), to raising money for newborns through charity runs, Fauja Singh was more than a runner. He was a force of nature. 

Despite earning a global-level fame for his extraordinary talent, Fauja Singh was a deeply grounded person who led a simple and disciplined life. He followed a strict diet, and early morning walks were an unnegotiable part of his daily routine. According to reports, Fauja’s diet mainly included home-churned curd, dry fruits, and daal-based laddoos.

In 2013, Fauja Singh officially retired from competing in marathons and races, but he made sure to have one last historical achievement. Just ahead of his 103rd birthday, Fauja Singh completed the Hong Kong Marathon’s 10 km race in 1 hour, 32 minutes.

Fauja Singh’s legacy has been preserved by author Khushwant Singh, and a biopic is on the way

Fauja Singh, the ever-smiling force with an infectious energy, tragically passed away at the age of 114 after being hit by a speeding, unidentified vehicle while on his routine walk near Beas village in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. He suffered severe head injuries and succumbed to them despite immediate medical attention. According to reports, filmmaker Omung Kumar is set to work on a biopic on him, titled Fauja, adapted from Khushwant Singh’s biography, Turbaned Tornado. 

Rest in power, Baba Fauja Singh. The tracks may be empty, but your footsteps will echo forever.

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