A 101-year-old marathon runner ran his last race on Sunday. Fauja Singh, a man often identified by his signature turban and the nickname to go along with it “The Turbaned Torpedo” signed on for a 6.5 mile race this weekend in Hong Kong. He finished his final race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
In 2011, at the age of 100, the man became the oldest person to ever run a full marathon. According to ESPN, the Guiness Book of World Records learned about the event, but unfortunately, refuses to recognize Singh in the famous record book, since the man’s birth date of April 1, 1911 is only recognized on a British passport and can’t be confirmed on a birth record. Apparently, the Indian government agencies did not keep birth records in 1911.
Singh may look like a lifelong runner, but he actually didn’t start running until the age of 89. After the deaths of his wife and son in quick succession, the man opted to move in with one of his other children in London, where he encountered a marathon on television. He knew then and there that marathon running was something he wanted to try. He’s been running marathons ever since 2000, when he ran his first race at the London marathon. He may be retiring now, but his accomplishments in the world of sports are among some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. Singh may have run his last race, but something tells me he may still step out and run a little for fun.
