World's Oldest Marathon Athlete Dies at 114 after Being Hit by a Vehicle

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, who began running at the age of 89, has passed away.

This was confirmed by his biographer, Khushwant Singh, on Tuesday (July 15).

According to Khushwant, Fauja died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unknown vehicle while crossing the road in his village, Bias, in Jalandhar district, Punjab, India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences on the news via social media.

“Fauja Singh was an extraordinary figure because of his unique personality and the way he inspired the younger generation of Indians in fitness,” Modi wrote on his X account.

"He was a special athlete with tremendous determination. I am deeply saddened by his passing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers around the world."

It is known that Fauja Singh is an Indian-born British citizen who earned the nickname “Turbaned Tornado” because he was considered capable of running as fast as a tornado, utilizing a turban as a distinctive feature of his appearance.

He began pursuing long-distance running at the age of 89, after losing his wife and one of his children.

Despite not having an official birth certificate because he was born during the British colonial period, his family claims Fauja was born on April 1, 1911.

Throughout his life, Fauja made some remarkable achievements. He continued to participate in full marathon races (42 km) until the age of 100.

His last race was the 10km Hong Kong Marathon 2013, at the age of 101, which he completed in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.

He has also been an Olympic torchbearer in Athens (2004) and London (2012), and has appeared in commercials alongside world sports figures such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

Fauja's health and vitality are attributed to his simple lifestyle. He regularly walks on his farm and maintains a diet of laddu (an Indian sweet rich in dried fruit) and homemade yogurt.