The one who was considered the oldest marathoner in the world, Fauja Singh, died on Monday, July 14. The athlete was overturned by a vehicle at the age of 114 in his native district of Jalandhar, in the state of Penjab in India. Let’s go back to the route of the Indian marathonist.

End of race for Fauja Singh

Nicknamed ” The ribbon tornado », The Indian Fauja Singh died at 114 in India after being overturned by a car. A vehicle overturned him as he was trying to cross a road from his Jalandhar district.

His biographer announced his death yesterday, Tuesday July 15, on X. Khushwant Singh said on his account: ” My tornado in turban is no longer “,” Rest in peace my dear fauja ». He was considered The oldest marathoner in the world.

A turning point at 88

Fauja Singh discovers the backward race late, but with a rare determination. It is only after a series of personal tests that he decides to put on his sneakers, at 88. His first test is a race of twenty kilometers, but it was in 2000, at 89, that he truly marked the minds while running His first marathon in London.

He participated in the race in the name of Blissa charitable association dedicated to premature children. Fauja Singh ends the test in 6 hours and 54 minutes58 -minute swing the previous world record in the category of over 85 years.

Therefore, he continues competitions with inexhaustible energy. In just five years, he runs seven marathons and many half-marathons. In 2003, in Toronto, he signed a new historical performance with a time of 5 hours, 40 minutes And 1 second, establishing the world record for a man over 90 years old.

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Age was just a figure

Even if Fauja Singh has never been able to present his birth certificate, his family ensures that he was born on April 1, 1911, when India was still part of the British Empire. The Indian athlete had caused a sensation by embarking on the marathon exercise at the age of 89. He became famous worldwide after his exploits. The bearded in turban had even worn The Olympic Flame in 2004 then in 2012.

He ran his last marathon – the 42,195 km – in 2013, in Hong Kong, when he had 101 years old. However, for lack of documents officially proving its age, the Guinness of the Records could not attribute the title of dean of the marathonists.