Fauja Singh's Life and Legacy - World's Oldest Marathon Runner

Beas Pind, Punjab – 15 July 2025 – Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and inspiration to millions, died Monday evening after being struck by an SUV in a hit-and-run near his native village, Beas Pind in Jalandhar district, Punjab. He was 114 years old.

Singh was crossing the Jalandhar–Pathankot highway around 3:30 pm on 14 July when a white Toyota Fortuner hit him, throwing him several feet. He sustained critical head injuries and died later that evening at a private hospital near Jalandhar.

The local police confirmed an FIR under automotive negligence (Sections 281 and 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and launched a manhunt for the vehicle and its driver.

A Life of Unlikely Triumph

Born on 1 April 1911 to a farming family in Beas Pind, Fauja Singh began life with frailty and could barely walk until age five. After losing his wife Gian Kaur and his son in a tragic accident in 1994, he moved to London in 1993 to live with his youngest son.

At 89, seeking solace from grief, Singh joined local long walks and running groups. He completed his first marathon in 2000 in London at age 89, finishing the 42 km course in 6 hours 54 minutes—breaking previous age-group records by nearly an hour.

Over the next 13 years, Singh ran nine full marathons, including six in London, two in Toronto, and one in New York, with his fastest time—5 hours 40 minutes— at Toronto in 2003.

In 2011, at age 100, Singh became the first centenarian to complete a full marathon, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in just over eight hours. His feat went unrecorded by Guinness due to missing birth documentation, but he held a British passport stating his birth year and a letter from the Indian government acknowledging the lack of 1911 records.

Declaring retirement after the 2013 Hong Kong 10 km race aged 101, Singh remained active—running charity events, delivering motivational talks, serving as a torch bearer in the 2012 London Olympics, and participating in a 2024 anti-drug walk in Punjab.

Mourning a Global Icon

Singh’s death has spurred an outpouring of condolences across India and around the world.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected that Singh was “extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness.”
  Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria recalled Singh’s participation in the “Nasha Mukt: Rangla Punjab” march in December 2024, and called it “heartbreaking” that he died in this accident.
   
• Punjab Politics: The State Assembly paid tributes on 15 July; CM Bhagwant Mann and other leaders lauded Singh as an enduring symbol of Sikh pride and health.
   
• Sikhs in the City—Singh’s London-based running club—committed to dedicating all their 2026 events in his honor.
   

The Investigation and Arrest

Probing the Hit-and-Run

Punjab police swiftly collected CCTV footage showing a white Toyota Fortuner at the scene. Headlight fragments and blood traces led investigators to the vehicle’s owner and driver.

On 16 July, authorities arrested Amritpal Singh Dhillon, 26, an NRI recently returned from Canada, from his village in Kartarpur, Jalandhar. Dhillon reportedly confessed to the first investigation and admitted he didn’t know the victim was Fauja Singh until after news reports emerged.

Police seized the SUV, registered in Punjab under a Kapurthala resident, sold to Dhillon. FIRs were filed under sections for rash driving and culpable homicide.

Dhillon, who claimed he hit Singh while returning from Bhogpur to Kishangarh after selling his phone, now faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Who is Amritpal Singh Dhillon?

• Age & Background: 26, originally from Dasupur village near Kartarpur; lived in Canada until recently.
   
• Vehicle: Toyota Fortuner; purchased shortly before the incident; identified via CCTV, headlight fragments, and ownership records.
   
• Admission: Admitted to the accident, but stated he was unaware the victim was Singh.
   
• Legal Status: Arrested, vehicle seized, FIR filed—investigation ongoing.
   

Aftermath and Legacy

Community Reaction and Legacy

Singh’s close ones describe morning crosswalks nearly every day, farmers, runners, television appearances, public engagements—his presence was ubiquitous. Even in 2024, he inspired youth-led anti-drug rallies.

His biography Turbaned Tornado, launched in the House of Lords in 2011, chronicled his late-life ascent. Recognized by state and international bodies, he championed racial equality, Sikh identity, and a message that “impossible is nothing.”

What Happens Next?

• Legal proceedings: Dhillon faces charges including culpable homicide; trial dates are expected once investigations conclude, potentially contested as accidental or negligent.
   
• Public memorial: Family plans to bring his body to London for final rites, once his children arrive—an event expected to attract widespread tributes.
   

• Health justice and road safety: Singh's death highlights road safety concerns in peri-urban India, especially for the elderly. Authorities pledged stricter enforcement against hit-and-run drivers.

   

  A Life That Redefined Longevity

Fauja Singh’s story touched hearts across generations:

• He began from hardship—weak legs, tragic loss, finding purpose late in life;
   
• From 2000–2013, he ran marathons worldwide, often with slow but determined pace, improving global perceptions of age and grit.
   

• A campaigner beyond athletics: torchbearer, charity advocate, and symbol of inter-cultural goodwill, he stood alongside figures like Muhammad Ali and David Beckham in an Adidas “Impossible is Nothing” campaign.
   

Fauja Singh’s legacy lives on as a testament to overcoming adversity, redefining human limits, and inspiring others to chase impossible dreams, regardless of age.