World's Oldest Marathon Runner Dies

Fauja Singh, renowned as the world's oldest marathon runner, met a tragic end at the age of 114 in a hit-and-run incident in India. Born in rural India in 1911, Singh's extraordinary journey as a marathon runner began in his late 80s, earning him the moniker "Turbaned Tornado."

Singh's remarkable athletic career commenced after he relocated to London following personal losses. He completed an impressive nine marathons, with his personal best of 5 hours and 40 minutes achieved at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2011, at the centenarian age of 100, Singh etched his name in history by becoming the first person of that age to complete a marathon, finishing the Toronto event in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 6 seconds.

Despite his phenomenal achievements, Singh never secured official recognition from Guinness World Records due to the absence of a birth certificate. His final competitive appearance was a 10-kilometer race in Hong Kong in 2013, following his participation as a torchbearer in the 2012 London Olympics.

Singh's untimely death occurred while he was walking near his native village in Punjab, India. The incident has prompted a police investigation to identify the vehicle responsible for the fatal collision. As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in, including one from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded Singh as "an exceptional athlete with incredible determination."