The world's oldest distance runner, Fauja Singh, has died in a road accident at the age of 114. According to his biographer, Singh was hit by a vehicle in Jalandhar, Punjab on Monday.
Singh, an Indian-born British national known as the "Turbaned Tornado," did not have a birth certificate. However, his family said he was born on April 1, 1911. He ran full marathons (42 kilometers) until the age of 100. His last race was a 10-kilometer race at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
Singh became a celebrity after he took up distance running at the age of 89, following the deaths of his wife and one child. He was inspired by watching marathons on television. Although he was recognized as the oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records because he could not provide his age.
Singh was a torchbearer for the Olympics in Athens 2004 and London 2012. He has also done endorsements with famous athletes like David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. His strength and vitality are due to his routine of walking through the fields and eating the Indian sweet "laddu" filled with dry fruits and homemade curd. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on his social media, saying Singh was an inspiration to the youth of India when it comes to health and fitness.
