Fauja Singh Biography: Age, Wife, Career, Personal Life & Legacy of the Oldest Marathon Runner in 2025

Fauja Singh, known as the “Turbaned Tornado”, was a legendary marathon runner of British–Indian origin who shattered age barriers and inspired the world. Here’s a deep dive into his life, career, and legacy, optimized for semantic SEO with a well-structured wiki-style infobox.

Full Name	Fauja Singh
Nickname/Aliases	Turbaned Tornado, Running Baba, Sikh Superman
Birthdate	1 April 1911 (claimed)
Birthplace	Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab, British India
Death	14 July 2025 (aged 114) in Beas Pind, Punjab, India — road accident
Nationality	British (Indian-origin)
Height / Weight	1.72 m / 52–53 kg
Marital Status	Married to Gian Kaur (died 1992)
Children	Sons: Harwinder, Kuldip (d. 1994), Sukhjinder; three daughters
Occupation	Long-distance & marathon runner
Years Active	2000–2013
Known For	Oldest marathoner in history — completed marathons at age 89–101+
Awards	British Empire Medal (2015), Ellis Island Medal (2003)
Website/Biopic	Biography Turbaned Tornado (2011); biopic Fauja (announced 2021)

🧠 Early Life & Personal Life

Humble Beginnings
Born the youngest of four in a farming family, Fauja struggled as a child. He couldn’t walk until age 5, earning the nickname “Danda” (meaning “stick”).
Life-altering Losses
After the early deaths of his wife Gian Kaur (1992), son Kuldip (1994), and a daughter, Fauja relocated to Ilford, London, in the early 1990s to live with another son .
Simple, Healthy Living
He followed a vegetarian diet—phulka, dal, greens, yogurt, milk, plenty of water, and ginger tea—attributing his longevity to discipline and abstinence from alcohol and tobacco.

🏃 Athletic Career

Late Start at Age 89
Began running to cope with grief; debuted in the 2000 London Marathon at age 89, finishing in 6 h 54 m.
Record-breaking Streak
Personal bests include:
- 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon (90+): 5 h 40 m
- London Marathon 2003 (age 92): 6 h 02 m
- 100-year-old marathon Toronto 2011: 8 h 11 m. Guinness declined to ratify due to birth certificate issues.
Other Milestones
Completed marathons in New York, Hong Kong, Glasgow, and track events. Carried the Olympic torch in 2012 and featured in an Adidas “Impossible Is Nothing” campaign with Beckham.
Ended competitive running after the 2013 Hong Kong marathon at age 101, but continued supporting marathons socially.

🎖 Awards & Legacy

Honors
- British Empire Medal (2015)
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2003) — first non-American recipient.
- Received personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II on his 100th birthday
Legacy
- Subject of a House of Lords biography event, cultural icon among Sikhs
- Co-founded “Sikhs In The City” running club (Ilford)
- Inspired millions globally: age-defying testament and philanthropic beacon.

🚨 Death

On 14 July 2025, while walking in his native Beas Pind, Punjab, Fauja was tragically struck by a vehicle and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Jalandhar. He was reportedly 114 years old (claimed birth date: 1 April 1911). Global tributes highlighted his status as the oldest marathoner and an unmatched symbol of perseverance