Fauja Singh, who couldn't walk until the age of 5, completed the London Marathon at 89 and set eight world records in a single day at the age of 100.
Fauja Singh: Fauja Singh was born in the state of Punjab, India. His childhood was filled with struggles. He couldn't walk properly until he was five years old. His legs were so thin and weak that people said he would never live a normal life. But Fauja Singh was determined to give his life a new direction.
Moving to England and a New Turn in Life
In 1992, Fauja Singh moved to England. After the death of his wife, Gyan Kaur, in Jalandhar, he began living with his son, Kuldeep Singh, in East London. However, the biggest shock of his life came in 1994 when his son passed away. After his son's death, he was completely devastated. But it was during this time of deep sorrow that he started walking to cope with his grief. This small step became the beginning of his new life.
First Marathon at the Age of 89
Fauja Singh's hard work and dedication paid off. He participated in the London Marathon in 2000 and completed the full marathon (42.195 kilometers) in 6 hours and 54 minutes at the age of 89. This achievement made him famous worldwide. At that time, he was only 58 minutes behind breaking the previous world record in the over-90 age group.
Created History in Toronto
In 2003, Fauja Singh achieved a personal best in the '90 and over' age group at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, with a time of 5 hours and 40 minutes. This achievement became an inspiration, especially for senior citizens like him who begin to limit themselves with age.
Set Eight World Records in One Day
In 2011, when Fauja Singh turned 100, he set eight world records in a single day at the Ontario Masters Association Meet held at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto. He participated in races of different distances and, at the age of 100, achieved what no one else in the world could.
Olympic Torchbearer and Final Race
In 2012, Fauja Singh was chosen as a torchbearer for the London Olympics. In the same year, he completed his final long-distance competitive race in Hong Kong. In that race, he completed the 10-kilometer distance in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. This was no ordinary achievement, as he was 101 years old at the time.
An Inspiration for the Youth
During his running career and beyond, Fauja Singh has always inspired young people. Whenever a marathon was organized in Jalandhar, he would definitely be present and inspire young people to stay fit and achieve their goals. His life is proof that if there is passion, age can never be an obstacle in achieving one's goals.
