Fauja Singh, the 114-year-old marathon runner, died on Monday after being struck by a vehicle in Beas Pind, in the Indian state of Punjab. Nearly 20 years ago, he visited Lisbon.
The Marathon Club of Portugal (MCP) recalled this in a statement to Notícias ao Minuto, expressing deep sorrow for the death of the man known as the world’s oldest marathon runner.
“In his journey as an athlete, which began when he was already 89 years old, and took him to reputable marathons like Toronto and London, Fauja Singh was in Lisbon, running the Half Marathon of the Portuguese capital in 2006, at the age of 94″, the statement read.
Carlos Moia, president of MCP, described this athlete’s visit to Lisbon as “an unforgettable moment.”
“His presence inspired thousands of people and showed the world that passion for running knows no age. He was a symbol of overcoming challenges, determination, and contagious joy. His passing leaves a void, but his example remains eternal”, he recalled.
Above, you can see photos of Fauja Singh’s visit, provided by the Marathon Club of Portugal.
Fauja Singh died at the age of 114 after being struck by a vehicle on Monday in India. The suspect has now been detained.
Andrea Pinto | 11:54 – 16/07/2025
Notably, on Wednesday, the suspect in the fatal hit-and-run on Fauja Singh was arrested. The incident occurred as Singh was crossing a road during a visit to his native village of Beas Pind in Punjab.
The British national sustained serious head injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The 26-year-old suspect fled the scene after the incident but is now in police custody. According to the British press, the man was identified as Amritpal Singh Dhillon, who allegedly did not realize he had caused the marathoner’s death until seeing news reports.
During a press conference, senior police officer Harvinder Singh Virk indicated that the accused was speeding at the time of the collision. The suspect’s Toyota Fortuner was identified through footage capturing the vehicle, and parts of the car found at the scene supported the identification.
Fauja Singh died after being struck by a vehicle in his hometown in India. He was an example of how age should not prevent anyone from achieving their goals.
Andrea Pinto | 09:23 – 15/07/2025
But who was Fauja Singh?
Fauja lived in Ilford, UK, since 1992 and gained fame when he decided to enroll in his first marathon at the age of 89.
Fauja’s story is even more remarkable considering he was born with a skin and leg condition that prevented him from walking until he was five years old. After moving to London in the 1990s, he took up running following the death of his wife in 2000.
At 90, he ran the London Marathon in six hours and 54 minutes, breaking the record for the oldest person to run a marathon.
He went on to participate in several such races, with his best result in 2003 at the Waterfront Marathon in Toronto, Canada.
Over the past two decades, he received numerous accolades, including a letter from Queen Elizabeth II, praise from Guinness World Records, and an invitation to be a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics.
Despite advancing age, he showed no intention of stopping, achieving one of his greatest dreams: becoming the first person aged 100 to run a marathon.
At the time, Guinness World Records described his accomplishment as an “inspiring achievement.” However, it was not officially recorded due to issues with confirming his birth certificate.
See the images in the gallery above.
