A British-Indian origin marathon runner, Fauja Singh became a global inspiration and widely known for long-distance running. From the quiet farms of Punjab to international marathons, he proved that determination has no age and its never too late to start. On July 14, 2025, Fauja Singh met a tragic accident in Punjab and passed away at the age of 114 leaving behind a golden legacy that transcends age, culture and borders.
Who Is Fauja Singh?
Born on April 1, 1911 in Beas Pind, a village in Jalandhar, Punjab which was a part of British India at that time. He had 4 siblings, out of which he was the youngest one. He had to face physical challenges in early stage of his life as he couldn’t walk until the age of 5. Even as a grown up he had frail legs which limited his mobility.
Tragedies In Fauja Singh’s Life
In 1992, his wife Gian Kaur passed away and he moved to East London, England. But his life was struck by another tragedy when his son Kuldip died in 1994 and it left a huge impact on Fauja. In order to cope up with the grief he started jogging and he was always on the move.
Legendary Career In Marathon
At the age of 89, Fauja Singh started running more seriously and in 2000 he made his debut in London Marathon where he finished in 6 hours and 54 minutes. Going further he took part in marathons at New York, Toronto and Mumbai. His most remarkable personal best came at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which he completed in 5 hours and 40 minutes, an astonishing feat for someone in their 90s.
The ‘Turbaned Tornado’ Scripts History
Fauja Singh was given the name of Turbaned Tornado as he represented Sikh culture internationally. In 2011 at the age of 100 years he scripted history at the event organised by the Ontario Masters Association in Toronto, Canada. During the Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, he set eight world records in a single day in the 100+ age category. Fauja Singh’s life story has been documented in a biography titled “Turbaned Tornado” which was authored by Khushwant Singh. The book was published on July 7, 2011. His biopic titled “Fauja” was announced in 2021 and directed by Omung Kumar B.
Recognition And Global Influence
In 2003, he became the first non-American to received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and was awarded for promoting racial harmony. He also became the oldest person to get featured in PETA campaign where he advocated animal rights and healthy living. Fauja Singh became even more popular when he appeared in a commercial alongside iconic David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
